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7
LYDGATE'’S
FALL OF PRINCES
EDITED BY
HENRY BERGEN
PART II.
(Books ITI-V.)
THe CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, 1923
LYDGATE’S FALL OF PRINCES
PART II.
BOOKS III.-V.
Digitized by Google
CONTENTS OF PART II.
Sn aver othccsanarantessiel ee ere 329-472
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Digitized by Google
THE FALL OF PRINCES
Digitized by Google
BOOK IL 2:
[ Prologue.] . a
IK a pilgrym which that goth onfoote, [p.144] Lites pilenm. <*>.
who wea -
And hath non hors to releue his trauaile, ea foot and nd et ie
Hot, drie [&] wery, & fynde may no boote _ bis thirst, wo fare
Off welle cold, whan thrust hym doth assaile, 4 help for my
Wyn nor licour, that may to hym auaile,
Riht so fare I, which in my besynesse
No socour fynde my rudnesse to redresse.
I meene as thus: I ha[ue] no fressh licour g 1 have no fresh
WwW
Out off the conduitis off Calliope, fountain of =
Nor thoruh Clio in rethonk no flour flower of speech
In my labour for to refresshe me, cise eg
Nor off the sustren, in noumbre thnies thre, iagchner
Which with Cithera on Pernaso duell, — Sunk ovens
Thei neuer me gaff drynk onys off ther well! Parnassus.
Nor off ther sprynges cleer & cristallyne, EN acaba toe
That sprang be touchyng off the Pegase, 0
The fauour lakkith my makyng tenlumyne,
I fynde ther bawme off so gret scarsete,
To tame ther tunzys with sum drope of plente;
For Poliphemus thoruh his gret blyndnesse 20
Hath in me dirked off Argus the brihtnesse.
Our liff heer short, off wit the gret dulnesse, tees
The heuy soule troublid with trauaile, ee
And off memorie* the glacyng brotilnesse, — 24 Dread and
Dreed & onkunnyng ha{ue] maad a strong bataile amino
weaken my will
With werynesse my sperit to assaile, to write,
And with ther subtil crepyng in most queynte
Ha[ue] maad my sperit in makyng for to feynte. 28
4. welle] wellis H.
7. No] None R.
9. conduitis] conductis R.
17. The] Ther R — makyng)] fauour H.
24. off ] om. R — memoire B:
329
330 The Frologue
and my step And ouermor, the feerful frowardnesse
has madea _,. Off my stepmocder callid oblyuyoun,
falness to shadow Hath maid & bastile off foryetilnesse,
eis mete LO stcppe the passage & shadwe my resoun,
a aks That:I myht haue no cleer direccioun
In translatyng off newe to quikke me,
-. Stories to write off old antiquite.
= Thus was I set, and stood in double werre
betwieea the = At the meetyng off feerful weies tweyne.
e€
". ~:nue my work The ton was this: who-euer list to lere,
- of t t
and Igaorance, Where-as good[e] will gan me constreyne,
pen.” Bochas taccomplisshe for to do my peyne,
Cam Ignoraunce with a maas off dreede
Mi penne tarreste;, I durst[e] nat proceede.
When Icou. | Thus be my-selff remembryng on this book,
ee pen quake’ It to translate how I hadde vndirtake,
at the thought iF ul pale off cheer, astonyd in my look,
abandoned my y Myn hand gan tremble; my penne I felte quake,
That disespeired, I hadde almost forsake
So gret a labour, dreedful & inportable,
It to parfourme I fond my-silff so onable.
and when I saw Twen the residue off this gret iourne
sccomplished, I And litil part theroff that was begunne,
for fear, like «I stood chekmaat for feer whan I gan see
taken by night, In my weie how litil I hadde runne;
Lik taman that failed day & sunne,
And hadde no liht taccomplisshe his viage,
So ferr I stood a-bak in my passage. ,
beeen i The nyht cam on, dirked with ignoraunce,
norance. _, Mi witt was dull be cleernesse to discerne
to help me but In rethonk for lak off suffisaunce,
the Pierides
Medusa, hard) The torchis out, & queynt was the lanterne.
as stone.
And in this caas my stile to gouerne,
Me to forthre I fond non other muse
But, hard as ston, Pierides and Meduse.
Fovery4*?., Support was non my dulnesse for to guie;
old age: my Pouert approchid; in stal crokid age:
purse was
empty,and Mercurie absent and Philologie;
Bacchus
far away. Mi purs ay liht and void off al coignage.
29. ferdful R. . bastile] bataile H, batell R 3.
35. antiquite sacioute H. 39. gan] can H.
66. Philologie] philosophye H.
[BK. NI
32
40
52
56
BK. IIT] The Prologue
Bachus ferr off to glade my corage;
An ebbe off plente; scarsete atte fulle,
Which of an old man makth the sperit dulle.
But hope & trust to putte away dispair
Into my mynde off newe gan hem dresse;
And cheeff off all to make the wethir fair,
Mi lordis fredam and bounteuous largesse
Into myn herte brouht in such gladnesse,
That thoruh releuyng off his benygne grace,
Fals Indigence list me no mor manace.
A, how it is an hertli reioishyng
To serue a prynce that list to aduertise
Off ther seruauntis the feithful iust menyng,
And list considre to guerdone ther seruise.
And at a neede list hem nat despise,
331
68
But hope rose
again and the
72 weather bright-
rr
76
But from al daunger that sholde hem noye or greue
Been euer redi to helpe hem and releue.
And thus releued be the goodliheed,
84
[P. 145] dtspair'and.
And thoruh the noblesse off this most knyhtli man, 4re#4 vanished,
Alle mystis cleerid off disespeir & dreed,
Trust, hope and feith into myn herte ran;
And on my labour anon forthwith I gan:
For be cleer support off my lordis grace,
Al foreyn lettyng fro me I dede enchace.
_ 4 Folkis that vse to make grete viages,
Which vndirfonge long trauaile & labour,
Whan thei ha[ue] doon gret part off ther passages,
Off werynesse tasswagen ther rigour,
Ageyn feyntise to fynde sum fauour,
Looke offte ageyn, parcell to be releued,
To seen how moch ther iourne is a-cheued.
Cause whi thei so offte looke ageyn,
Bakward turne look and eek visage,
Is onli this: that it may be seyn
To them how moch is doon off ther viage.
Eek weri folk that gon on pilgrymage
Reste hem sumwhile a ful large space,
Laborious soot to wipen from ther face.
69. An] And R.
105. soot] swot H, swet R 3, swete P.
and I forthwith
began my
labour.
People who
92 make long
journeys or
undertake
laborious tasks,
often look back
to see how much
they have
96 accomplished,
and weary folk
who go on
100 pilgrimages
sometimes stop
to take a long
rest,
104
332 The Prologue [BK. II
casting down ~=©Ther heuy fardell among thei caste doun
their heavy : i
beating at cool At certeyn boundis to do ther bakkis ese,
springsand ==» At wellis colde eek off entencioun 108
reckoning up the :
miles they have Drynke fressh watris ther greuous thrust tapese,
travelle’- Or holsum wynes ther appetit to plese,
Reknyng the miles be computaciouns,
Which thei ha[ue] passid, off castellis & off touns. 112
It comforts them Tt doth hem ese the noumbre for to knowe
much of their Sithe thei began off many gret iournees,
Off hih[e] mounteyns and off valis lowe,
And straunge sihtes passyng be cuntrees, 116
Thunkouth bildyng off burwes & citees,
Countyng the distaunce fro toun[e]s & the spacis:
This ther talkyng at ther restyng placis.
and they also , Lhe residue and the surplusage 120
ook forward to
res orbat til lies The rekne also off ther labour komyng,
Thynke it is a maner auauntage
To haue & seen a cleer[e] knowlechyng
Off thynges passid & thynges eek folwyng; 124
For to ther hertis it doth ful gret plesaunce,
Whan al such thyng is put in remembraunce.
Rhus did Joha_ And semblabli John Bochas, as I fynde,
was astonished (Jan turne his bak, look and c[o]untenaunce, 128
when he con-
sidered the Fall And to remembre, apoyntyng in his mynde
of Princes from ‘ °
Fortune's wheel, o the stories rehersed in substaunce
In his too bookis off sorwe & displesaunce,
Hymsilff astonyd, merueilyng a gret deel 132
The fall off pryncis fro Fortunys wheel.
they hed brought Off ther onhapp, as he doth reherce,
their misfor- Toward hemsilff the cause doth rebounde;
tunes upon
ace ae Ther clymbyng up the heuenes for to perce, 136
ambition and In worldli richesse tencrecen and habouzde,
coveroume’’ ‘Ther gredi etik doth hemsilff confounde;
And ther thrust off hauyng onstaunchable
Causeth ther noblesse to be so variable. 140
High climbing u .
bets the nent? Hih clymbyng up, off resoun who can see,
;
and causes men Dulleth off braynes the memoriall,
NOONE (Oe. Blunteth the sihte, in hih & low degre,
mucn sha 1] ° e
everything. | Which from a-loffte makith hem haue a fall. 144
112. 2nd off ] om. H.
116. be] the R. 117. burwes] Bourhes R.
118. distaugcis H.
143. &Jor H.
BK. I11 | The Fable told by Andalus
Men seyn off old, who that coueitith all,
At onset hour suchon shal nat chese,
But al his gadryng attonys he shal lese.
For worldli folk which so hih arise
With the gret peis off worldli habundaunce,
And with the weihte off froward couetise, —
Namli wher Fortune holdeth the ballaunce, —
With onwar turn off sum onhappi chaunce,
This stormy queen, this double fals goddesse,
Plungeth hem doux from al ther gret richesse.
Wherfore Bochas heeroff to make a preeff
Sheweth to purpos a sentence ful notable,
A cleer exaumple off onwar such myscheeff,
Write off an auctour be maner off a fable,
Al-be the menyng be ful comendable,
And weel accordyng in conclusioun
- To the cleer purpos off this entencioun.
q Finis Prologi.
[Incipit liber Tercius ]
333
Fortune is
148 always ready
to plunge
worldly folk
wn from
their riches.
152
Therefore
pune elle a
able to shew
156 how such un-
expected mis-
chief comes.
160
[How Andalus doctor of Astronomye concludith/
how princys sholdenot atwite constellacions nor
fortune of theire vnhappy fallyng but theire owne
demeritys and vicious lyuyng. | !
T Naples whilom, as he doth specefie,
In his youthe whaz he to scoole went,
Ther was a doctour off astronomie,
Famous off cunnyng & riht excellent.
Off hym rehersyng, shortli in sentement,
His ioie was most to studyen and to wake;
And he was callid Andalus the blake.
He radde in scoolis the meuyng off the heuene,
The kynde off sterris and constellaciouns,
The cours also off the planetis seuene,
Ther influencis and ther mociouns,
And heeld also in his opynyouns,
The fall off pryncis, the cause weel out souht,
Cam off themsilff & off Fortune nouht.
154. gret]om.R. 156. ful] most H.
1 MS. J. leaf 60 verso.
When Bochas
went to school
in Naples there
was a soetct ot
64 astronomy ca
i Andalus the
Black, who
understood the
course of the
stars and be-
eee the
all of Princes
168 was caused by
themselves alone
and not by
Fortuna.
172
334 The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty (BK. 111
He held that Nor the sterris wer nothyng to wite, 176
not heaven are Be ther meuyng nor be ther influence,
ame OF e e
earthly misfore Nor that men sholde off riht the heuene atwite
tunes, . .
For no froward worldli violence:
For this clerk ther concluded in sentence, 180
How men be vertu longe may contune
From hurt off sterris outher off Fortune.
of which the chief id :
of which the chic Ther owne desert is cheeff occasioun
viciousness of OF the onhap, who-so taketh heede, 184
men, who have
free choice to And ther demeritis onwarli put hem doun,
well or. | Whan vicious liff doth ther bridil leede.
Cours off Fortune nor off the sterris rede
Hyndrith nothyng geyn ther felicite, 188
Sithe off fre chois thei ha[ue] ful liberte.
God punishes (God punsheth synne in many maner wise;
sin in many
ways; evil-doing Summe he chastisith for ther owne auail:
rerrieuson. Men may off resoum in such cas deuise, 192
Synne ay requereth vengaunce at his tail.
God off Fortune taketh no counsail,
As for Fortune, Nor from hir meuyng no man is mor fre,
no one is more
independent of Ag clerkis write,* than is Glad Pouerte. 196
her than Glad
sevtidy ea And onto purpos, this auctour ful notable,
telaticg tohis 20 his scoleris ther beyng in presence,
pupils this fable. Fy] demurli gan reherse a fable,
With many a colour off sugred eloquence; 200
Theron concludyng the summe off his sentence
Touchyng a striff, which he dede expresse,
Atwen Glad Pouert & this blynd goddesse.
[A disputacion between fortune & glad pouert. |!
Povey wis VOD Andalus: ‘Whilom off fortune 204
poke nee In a streiht place ther sat Glad Pouerte,
tattered woman, Which resemblid off look & figure
sat where three °
roads met. | A rekles woman, most ougli on to see,
At a naruh meetyng off hih-weies thre, 208
Al totorn, to-raggid and to-rent,
A thousend pachchis vpon hir garnement.
178. atwite] awyte R. 180. concludyng H.
188. Hyndryng R — ther] the R.
196. writen B. 203. this] his H.
209. to-raggid] & raggid H.
210. garment R, garmente P.
1 MS. J. leaf 60 verso.
BK. 1] The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty 335
She was hidous bothe off cheer and face, rope tld
And in semyng void off sorwe and dreed. any Pt Se
And bi that way as Fortune dede pace, el ee
And off Glad Pouert sodenli took heed, pened to come
She gan to smyle & lauhhe at hir in deed, cathe eght of
Bi a maner scornyng in certeyn, 216 began lap
Off hir array she hadde so gret disdeyn. Se,
Whos froward lauhtre, whan Pouert dede espie bore thd
How she off hir hadde indignacioun, Dany, A
She roos hire up off hih malencolie, 220 Fortune good.
Pleynli to shewe hire entencioun, ean
Withoute good day or salutacioun,
Doyng to Fortune no maner reuerence,
Vnder these woordis declaryng hir sentence: 224
g ‘O thou Fortune, most fool off foolis all, Modi Soldat i
What cause hastow for to lauhhe at me, fol ewhy do
Or what disdeyn is in thyn herte fall? me? We have
Spare neueradeel, tell on, lat me see, 228 acquaintance
For I ful litil haue a-do with the; another.”
Off old nor newe IJ ha[ue] noon aqueyntaunce
Nouther with the nor with thi gouernaunce.’
And whan Fortune beholdeth the maneer 232 [prtuge saw
Off Glad Pouert in hir totorn[e] weede, Hoverty bad
And kneuh also be contenaunce & cheer, for her and
How she off hire took but litil heede, pete
Lik as she hadde to hir no maner neede, — 236
The which[e] thynges conceyued and Iseyn,
To Pouerte she ansuerde thus ageyn:
g ‘Mi scornful* lauhtre pleynli was for the, i ole ie
Whan I the sauh so megre, pale and leene, ago You 60 thin |
Nakid and cold, in gret aduersite, cold, #0 scurvy
Scabbid, scuruy, scallid and oncleene You dwell in
On bak and body, as it is weel seene. ee
Many a beeste walke in ther pasture, 244
Which day be day off newe thou doost recure.
211. She] Scho R.
228. neueradeel] not adeel J, not a dele P.
234. know R.
236. hadde] om. R.
239. scornful] soruhful B.
243. andfom. R.
336 Lhe Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty (BK. 111
gad have nothing Hauyng nothyng to wrappyn in thyn hed _[p. 148]
oye a Sauff a brod hat, rent out off nattis olde,
Coes Se8 Ful offten hungri for defaute off bred, 248
you,and many Slepyng on straw[e] in the frostis colde.
sasteiea And wher thou comest, as men may weel beholde,
Tone: For feer off the, childre them withdrawe,
And many a dogge hath on thi staff ignawe. 252
oo a = To alle estatis thou art most odious,
men; everybody Men with the will ha[ue] no daliaunce,
presence.” Thi felaship is so contrarious,
Wher thou abidest ther may be no plesaunce. _— 256
Folk hate so dedli thi froward aqueyntaunce,
That fynali, I dar conclude off the,
Wher-euer thou comest thi felaship men fle!’
Pres Glad sw Whan Glad Pouert gan pleynli vndirstonde 360
rade Fortune’ ‘These rebukes rehersed off Fortune,
replied: © The rud[e] resouns that she took on honde,
Which frowardli to hire she dede entune,
As Pouert were a refus in comune, 264
Bi the repreuis that Fortune on hir laide;
For which Pouert replied ageyn & saide:
wii'cortsia hat 4 ‘Fortune, ’quod she, ‘touchyng this debat,
phony pecs Which off malice thou doost ageyn me take, 268
my own free will. Be weel certeyn, touchyng my poore estat,
I would rather
be poor and I off fre will thi fauour ha[ue] forsake.
povess great ANd thouh folk seyn thou maist men riche make,
hacer ale Yit I ha[ue] leuere be poore with gladnesse, 272
= Than with trouble possede gret richesse.
“Although you For thouh thou seeme benygne & debonaire
make a : :
appearance and Bi a maner countirfet apparence,
well fed Fat & weel fed, with rounde chekis faire, 276
With many colours off trouthe as in pretence,
As ther off feith wer werrai existence, —
But vnder all thi floures off fresshnesse
The serpent glidith, off chaung & doubilnesse. = 280
and wear purple And thouh thi clothyng be of purpil hewe,
s and ‘ ;
have many ; With gret awaityng off many chaumbereris,
jewels, neverthe- Off gold & perle ech dai chaunges newe,
cos Tam ae Clothes off gold & sondry fressh atiris, 284
ready to fight
eae And in thyn houshold ful many officeris, —
271. maist] may H.
BK. 11] The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty 337
Yit I dar weel putte in iupartie,
With the to plete and holde chaumpartie.’
Thus Glad Pouert gan wexen inportune, 288 [rer hes temper
Off cheer contraire, off look & off language, aide
Ageyn this ladi which callid is Fortune, presumption of
That off disdeyn she fill into a rage: creature, she
q ‘Behold,’ quod she, ‘off Pouert the corage, 292
In wrechidnesse standyng disconsolat,
How ageyn me she is now obstynat!
She cannat see, how she stant outraied, cl rl
Fer from the fauour off my felicite, 296 out my favour,
Yit off pride she is nat disamaied, full of pride!
Nor* list nat bowwe for tobeie me,
Thouh she be cast in mendicite,
Ferthest a-bak, I do you weel assure, 300
In myscheeff set off any creature.
But treuli, Pouert, for al thi truaundise, Pho ietias
Maugre thi pride and thi gret outrage, Seca cons oe
I shal the pun[y]she in ful cruel wise, 304 you and make
To make the loute vnder my seruage. phe hares
Which resemblest a dedli pale ymage, Lid veg rr
That were off newe rise out off his graue, oe
And yit off pride darst ageyn me raue.’ 308
But whan Fortune hadde these woordis said, Cha Poe
Glad Pouert gan falle in gret gladnesse, foes #8S sai:
And ageyn Fortune with a sodeyn braid, fools ea you
She gan hir conceit out shewe & expresse: 312 any rate, am free
g ‘Fortune,’ quod she, ‘thouh thou be a goddesse oe aad .
Callid off foolis, yit lerne this off me, sing to fiehts
From thi seruage | stonde at liberte. i is comforting
you have no
But yiff I shal algatis haue a-doo B16 penneee ot
With the in armis, most cruel & vengable,
Touchyng the quarel that is atwen vs too,
Ther is o thyng to me riht confortable,
That thi corage is flekeryng & onstable; 320
And wher an herte is in hymsilff deuyded,
Victorie in armys for hym is nat prouyded.
288. Importune R, H. 289. eonerany H.
298. ge on Nar B— for] om.
303. gret
318. that whic H —atwen] tween J.
338 The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty (BK. mI
wi wont fatter Me list[e] nouther flatre the nor fage,
Bitar appr Nor the tenoynte be adulacioun, 324
pads there Thouh flatfe]rie & feyned fals language
worldly wealth, Approprid be to thi condicioun;
And in despit off thi presumpcioun,
I ha[ue] forsake off my fre volunte 328
All the tresours off worldli vanite.
your eaveat,t. Whilom I was, as thou hast deuised, [p. 149]
Sfp an Seruant to the, and onto thi tresours;
power. But fro thi daunger now that I am fraunchised, 332
Sekyng off the nouther helpe nor socours,
Manace kynges & myhti emperours:
For Glad Pouert, late nouther soone,
With thi richessis hath nothyng to doone. 336
uy bold For thouh thou haue enbracid in thi cheyne
ann 3 Worldhi pryncis & goodes transitorie, *
cage And riche marchantis vndir thi demeyne,
has wholly | Yeuest to knyhthod conquest and victorie,* 340
escaped your
lure. The fadyng palme off laude & veynglorie,* —
But whan echon thi fauour han recurid,
Than is Glad Pouert fre fro thi lure assurid.
SA your iq All thi seruantis standen vnder dreede,
in fear of your Quakyng for feer[e] off thi doubilnesse;
Glad Poverty For nouther wisdam, force nor manheede,
alone is free. : <
Fredam, bounte, loue nor ientilesse
Mai in thi fauour ha[ue] no sekirnesse;
Thei be so possid with wyndis in thi barge,
Wher-as Glad Pouert goth freli at his large.
note tam hi manacyng doth me no duresse,
not afraid of Which worldli pryncis dredyn euerichon.
But I, Glad Pouert, theroff desire non,
As flowe & ebbe al worldli thyng mut gon;
For afftir flodis off Fortunys tyde,
The ebbe folweth, & will no man abide.
324. tonoynte R.
331. onto] to R.
Thei may weel quake for losse off gret richesse;
356
338. transitoires B, R, J, transytoryes H 5, transitories P.
340. victoires B, R, if victories P, victoryes H 5s.
341. veyngloires B, R} i vainglories P, veyngloryes H s.
347. ecu R, H, gentlenes P. 348. Mai] Man R.
349. wynde
355. mynd]. erthly H.
BK. 111] The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty 339
Flowe and ebbe be to me bothe aliche;
I dreede nothyng thi mutabilite,
Mak whom thou list{[e] outher poore or riche;
For I nothyng will requere off the,
Nouther lordshepe nor gret prosperite:
For with thi gifftes who that hath to doone,
Off chaunges braideth offter than the moone.
Out off pouert cam first these emperours
That were in Rome crownyd with laurer;
Fredam & largesse made hem first victours,
Causyng ther fame to shyne briht and cleer,
Till couetise brouht hem in daunger,
Whan thei off foli, in ther most excellence,
To thi doubilnesse dede reuerence.
For whan fredam a prynce doth forsake,
And couetise put awei largesse,
And streihtnesse is into houshold take,
And negardship exilith ientilesse,
Than is withdrawe from ther hih noblesse
The peeplis herte; and, pleynli to deuise,
Off ther seruauntis farweel al good seruise.
Al such sodeyn chaunzgis in comune
In this world vsid now fro day to day,
Echon thei come be fraude off fals Fortune;
Experience hath put it at assay,
Loue, trouthe & feith be gon [so] ferr away.
And yiff that trust with pryncis wil nat tarie,
Litil merueile thouh the peeple varie.
For thoruh thi chaungis off fraudulent fairnesse,
Ther is now vsid in eueri regioun
Glad cheer out shewed with couert doubilnesse,
Vnder the courtyn off symulacioun.
So secre now is adulacioun,
That in this world may be no sur[e]te,
But yiff it reste in Glad Pouerte.
Yit off thi pereilous froward variaunce
I sette no stor, treuli as for me;
For al thi frenship concludeth with myschaunce,
With sodeyn myscheeff off mutabilite,
Which yeueth me herte to haue a-do with the:
358. belom. R.
375. gentliness H.
383. sojom. J, R.
390. secret H.
397. me] my R.
304
poverty, nor did
they fall until
they
368 covetous and
worshiped you.
~. When a
6/2 prince becomes
avaricious he
loses the love of
his people;
376
and sudden
changes are to be
380 expected when
the honour of
princes has de-
parted.
384
“Owing to you,
people every-
where dissem-
surety except
388 in Glad Poverty.
392
“T have no fear
of your
froward incon-
stancy:
my poor te
is quite safe
396 from your
vicissitudes.”
340 The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty (BK. 11
For suffisaunce in my poore estaat
Shal to thi chaunges seyn sodenli chekmaat.’
When she heard Fortune almost with anger disespeired, 400
mas furious Off these woordis took ful gret greuaunce.
said, “if I aid g ‘Pouert,’ quod she, ‘which maist nat been apeired!
my power men But I now shewe ageyn the my puissaunce,
would think but kag
ttle of me. Men wolde litil accounte my substaunce, 404
O myhti Pouert! O stronge Hercules!
Which ageyn[s] me puttest thi-silff in pres!
ety Supposest thou it sholde the auaile,
h
that yoa can | Outher be force or be hardynesse 408
strong Hercules? Tq haue a-do with me in bataile,
I, who am call ; <
Princess of. | Which am off conquest & off hih prowesse
Conquest and . .
a!” In armys callid ladi and pryncessef
For ther is non so myhti conquerour, 412
That may preuaile withoute my fauour.’
roar i 4 Off these woordis Pouert nothyng afferd, [p. 150]
have neither ae i
hat arrt Ansuerde ageyn, thus pleynli in sentence:
aa Au ‘Thouh heer I ne* haue spere, sheeld nor suerd, 416
wrestle with me, Nor chosen armour to stonden at diffence,
Pollex nor dagger to make resistence,
But bare and naked, anon it shal be seyn,
Wher thou with me darst wrastlen on this pleyn. 420
eel oor Which shal be doon vnder condicioun
neith f . .
ulcindeee: That non off vs shal hymsilff withdrawe,
andl tat ee ; But stille abide off entencioun,
the other to, Till he that venquysshe ordeyned hath alawe, 424
over’ ©" Such as hym likith, ageyn[e]s his felawe.
The which{e] lawe shal nat be delaied
To be acomplisshid on hym that is outraied.’
At this Fortune OFF whos woordes Fortune ageyn gan smyle, 428
an to smile:
fudge bases That Pouert proffred so proudl: to assaile.
us? And vpon this she stynte a litil while,
And to Pouert she putte this opposaile:
g ‘Who shal,’ quod she, ‘be iuge off this bataile, 432
Or yeue a doom iustli atwen vs tweyne
Off this quarell which we shal darreyne?
416. heerI ne] I heer B, R, P. 417. stonde in at R.
420. Wher] Wheber H — on] in R.
424. venquysshith H — haue H.
434. Off] on H, R 3.
BK. 111] The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty 341
I axe also a-nother questioun
Touchyng thi profre off furious outrage:
Wher-as thou puttest a condicioun
And a lawe with ful proud language, —
Wher shaltow fynden pleggis or hostage
To keepe the promys which thou doost ordeyne,
Theroff tabide the guerdoun or the peyne?
I meene as thus: yiff ther be set a lawe
Atween vs too or a condicioun
Be sur[e]te, which may nat be withdrawe,
As vnder bond or obligacioun;
But there is nouther lawe nor resoun
May bynde a beggere, yiff it be weel souht,
Whan it is preued that he hath riht nouht.
Thi sect off pouert hath a proteccioun
From all statutis to gon at liberte,
And from al lawe a pleyn exempcioun:
Than folweth it, yiff thou bounde the
To any lawe that may contreuid be,
It wer fraude, pleynli to endite,
Which hast riht nouht thi parti to aquite.
Thou art so feeble, yiff it cam therto,
That thou were brouht onto vttraunce,
For noun power, whan al that wer do,
Thou sholdist faile to make thi fynaunce,
Bothe destitut off good and off substaunce;
And sithe no lawe thi persone may coarte,
It wer foli with suchon to iuparte.
Yiff I wolde compulse the to wrak,
Taxe off the the tresour off kyng Darie,
On that parti thou stondest ferr abak,
Mi paiement so longe sholde tarie,
Indigence wolde make the to varie.
And yiff I wolde thi persone eek compare
To Alisandre, —thi sides been ful bare!
And fynali thou stondest in such caas
Off miserie, wrechidnesse and neede,
That thou myhtest off resoun seyn* allas,
Bothe forsake off frenshipe & kenreede,
And ther is non dar plegge the for dreede:
449. Thi] The P — sect] feet R.
472. seyn] syngen B, syng R, synge J, sing P, say R 3.
473. &] & of H.
“And if I win,
Shee will you
nd surety to
436 keep your
promise?
4490
“If a condition
be set between
us, how can
hee cettinn be
as nothing,
444 bound to keep
it?
448
“Your sect of
Poverty
free of all law;it
would be a
fraud for you
to bind your-
452 self without
having any
security.
“And as you are
456 destitute, and
you.
460
**T should have
to wa ; lo
time before
464 got anything out
of youl
468
“Miserable and
without friends
or kin, no one
would pane
2 surety for
47 you; yet, like a
vai 8
fool, you expect
to 99
342 The Dispute between Fortune and Glad Poverty (BK. 111
Yit lik a fool supprisid with veynglorie,
Hopest off me to wynne the victorie.’ 476
Se td have G Quod Glad Pouert, ‘I doute neueradeel
no doubt what: That the victorie* shal passen on my side.
erga Plegge & hostages, lat hem go farweel!
of you, except J axe no mor off al thi grete pride, 480
tha ;
promise to fght But to the eende that thou wilt abide.
— Plegge thi feith, al-be that sum men* seith,
To truste in-Fortune ther is ful litil feith.
no wcurty 10 And for my part, in this hih emprise, 484
one eo Sithe I ha[{ue] pleggis nouther on nor tweyne,
take that and Mor sur hostage can I nat deuise,
keep it i . .
for ever if you But yiff so be the victorie* thou atteyne,
REUSED yelde my bodi bounden in a cheyne, 488
Perpetueli, lik the condicioun,
With the tabide fettrid in prisoun.’
Fortune laughed Than Fortune louh mor than she dede afforn,
more than ever.
“It is conary Whan she sauh Pouert so presumptuous; 492
. bennar to have In hir* arrai al ruggid and totorn,
heart! And hadde nouther rente, lond nor hous.
‘It is,’ quod she, ‘a thyng contrarious
Onto nature, who that can aduerte, 496
To a beggere to haue a sturdi herte.
And ifT conquer And yiff that I the venquisshid in bataile, [p.151]
you, of what use
would it be to It were to me no worshepe nor auauntage,—
me to keep ° . °
your empty What sholde thi bodi onto me auaile, 500
in prison? The tenprisowne streihtli in a cage?
It sholde been a charge and a costage,
Thyn empti wombe ech day to fulfill,
Yiff thou myhtest haue* vitaile at thi will! 504
twee to And yiff I wolde my-silff to magnefie,
lead you in
triumph behind Tokne off tryumphe afftir my char the leede,
my chanot, men ‘ ‘
prould say, Men wolde deeme it a maner moquerie,
fool, who has And seyn in scorn: ‘tak off that fool good heede, 508
conquered a
beggar!” How he a beggere hath ouercome in deede,
Fauht with hym for to encrece his name,
Which conquest turneth to his disclandre & shame!’
478. victoire B. 482. summen B.
483. litil] om. R. var
487. victoire B. 493. hir] his B, R, J —ruggid] ragged
R3, H 5s, to ragged P, rogged R.
504. han B.
511. sclaundre & diffame R 3.
BK. 11] Fortune seizes Glad Poverty by the Head 343
Yit whan I haue brouht the to vttraunce,
Mi power shewed and my grete myht,
And thyn outrage oppressid bi vengaunce, —
Afftir al this, as it is skile and riht,
It shal be kouth in eueri manys siht,
Out declarid the gret[e] difference
Twen thi feblesse* & my gret excellence.
Than to represse thi surquedie attonys,
Cruel Orchus, the teidogge infernall,
Shal reende thi skyn assonder fro thi bonys,
To shewe my power, which is imperiall,
And to declare in especiall,
Pouert recleymed onto Pridis lure,
With me to plete may no while endure.’
And sodenli, or Glad Pouert took heed,
Fortune proudli first began tassaile;
And onwarli hent hire bi the hed,
Demyng off pride, that she may nat faile
Thoruh hir power to venquysshe this bataile.
But it may falle a dwery in his riht
Toutraie a geaunt, for al his grete myht.
God taketh non heed to power nor to strengthe,
To hih estaat[e] nor to hih noblesse,
To squar(e] lemys, forged on breede or lengthe,
But to quarelis groundid on rihtwisnesse;
For out off wrong may growe no prowesse.
For wher that trouthe holdeth chaumpartie,
God will his cause be grace magnefie.
Wherfor Pouert, strong in hir entent,
Liht and delyufejre, auoid off al fatnesse,
Riht weel brethed, & nothyng corpulent,
Smal off dieete surfetis to represse,
Ageyn Fortune proudli gan hir dresse,
And with an ougli, sterne cruel face,
Gan in armys hir proudli to embrace.
518. febilnesse B, feebilnesse H, feblenesse R.
512 after I have
520
524
With that,
Fortune sud-
532
thinking it
would be easy to
overcome her.
But God always
defends the
right,
536
and Poverty,
54° thin and active,
with an ugly
expression on
her face,
520. tei doeee R, Teydogge H, tidogge J, tye dogge P, tey-
539. God] Gog (blunder) R. 543. Dietis H.
545. with] om. R
ogges R 3.
528. Geil tooke H. Sot dwery] dowri R.
546. enbrace R, H.
344 Glad Poverty overcomes Fortune [ BK. II
grasped Fortune Pouert was sclendre & myhte weel endure;
corpulent, short- Fortune was round[e], short off wynd and breth. 548
And wombes grete oppressid with armure,
For lak off wynd the grete stuff hem sleth;
And many a man bryngeth to his deth:
For ouermekil off any maner thyng 552
Hath many on brouht to his ondoyng.
(a inet A mene is best, with good{e] gouernaunce;
ie foo fat | To mekil is nouht, nor ouer-gret plente:
sufficiency is Gretter richesse is founde in suffisaunce 556
better than
superfuity) Than in the flodis off superfluyte.
And who is content in his pouerte
And gruchchith nat, for bittir nor for soote,
What-euer he be, hath Fortune vndir foote, 560
and jated her up Coueitise put hym in no dispeir, —
Wherfor Pouert, off herte glad and liht,
Leffte Fortune ful hih up in the heir,
And hir constreyned off verai force & myht. 564
For Glad Pouert off custum and off mht,
Whan any trouble ageyn hir doth begynne,
Ay off Fortune the laurer she doth wynnze.
and, throwing =@ Maugre Fortune, in the hair aloffte 568
her "down, ave
realtor 2 blow Constreyned she was be Wilful Pouerte,
with her arp That to the erthe hir fal was ful onsoffte:
For off Pouert the bony sharp[e] kne,
Sclendre and long & leene vpon to see, 572
Hitte Fortune with so gret a myht
Ageyn the herte, she myht nat stande vpriht:
that she could =To signefie that Pouert with gladnesse,
not mse.
ovens hans Which is content with smal possessioun 576
holds Fortune in in And geueth no fors off tresour nor richesse,
Hath ouer Fortune the dominacioun,
And kepith hir ever vnder subieccioun,
Wher worldli folk, with ther riche apparaile, 580
Lyue euer in dreed Fortune wolde faile.
poor men can "The poore man affor the theeff doth synge [p. 152]
sing before
thieves; itisthe Vnder the wodis with fresh notis shrille;
rich man who is
afraid.) The riche man, ful feerful off robbynge, 584
553. ondoyng] endyng R, R 3.
568. alot rel or lofte R. 570. hir] his R.
583. woode
BK. 111 Fortune must submit to Glad Poverty 345
Quakyng for dreed[e], rideth foorth ful stille.
The poore at large goth wher hym list at wille,
Strongli fraunchised from al debat and stnff;
The riche afferd alwei to lese his liff. 588
Thus Glad Pouert hath the palme Iwonne, — Pe
Fortune outraied, for al hir doubilnesse. the batts and
Vpon whom Pouert in haste is ronne, Fortune 99
And streyned hir with so gret duresse, 592 she protaised
Till she confessid & pleynli dede expresse
With feith & hand, in al hir gret[e] peyne,
Tabide what lawe Pouert list ordeyne.
And in haste afftir this disconfiture, 566 O Som
Fortune began to compleyne sore. pay ree
But Glad Pouert, which all thynge myhte endure,
Charged Fortune scornen hire no more.
For it was said[e] sithen go ful yore, 600
He that reioishith to scorne folk in veyn,
Whan he wer lothest shal scorned been ageyn.
Yit,’ quod Pouert, ‘thouh thou were despitous, Be Sonia
Woordis rehersyng which wer nat faire, Gog pores’ said
Straunge rebukis ful contrarious, even if you
And repreuys many thousend paire, pleasant to you,
Thou shalt me fynde ageynward debonaire: feiniiy ciel
For thouh a tunge be sclandrous & vengable, Gog.
To sclandre ageyn is nothyng comendable.
Thou must considre, touchyng our bataile
The ordynance and imposiciou,
That which off vs in conquest do preuaile 612
To brynge his felawe to subiecciouz,
He shal obeie the statut off resoun,
And acomplisshe, off verai due dette,
What lawe the victour list vpon hym sette. 616
For which thou shalt the said[e] lawe obeie, eee
With circumstaunces off the condicioun eae.
Bi me ordeyned, and nothyng ageyn seie, —
Make no gruchchyng nor replicacioun. 620
Considred first the fals opynyoun
Off hem that seyn, al worldli auenture
Off good and badde abide vnder thi cure, —
598. all chynge] om. R.
616. vpon] on H —to sette H.
346 Fortune overcome by Glad Poverty [BK. III
under your Which be deceyued, I dar seyn, bothe too;
con .
take Unhappy And ther errour and foli to redresse,
dventure rom . ° e e
your power. 1 shal withdrawe in verai sekirnesse
Onhappi Auenture away fro thi power,
That she no mor shal stonde in thi daunger.
to ond wf’ This lawe off newe vpon the I make,
everybody ean That first thou shalt, al open in sum pleyn,
seeher and Fuel Auenture bynden to a stake,
know that only °
those who want Or to sum peler wher she mai be seyn,
her with them. 10 shewe exaumple to folkis in certeyn,
That no man shal loosne hire nor discharge,
But such as list with hire to gon at large.
“And you shall ;
haraa meme, Heeroff to make a declaracioun,
but the fools “Touchyng thi myht off Euel Auenture,
you.” Thou shalt forgon thi dominacioun
To hyndre or harme any creature,
But onli foolis, which in thi myht assure.
Thet off ther foli may feele gret damage,
Nat off thi power, but off ther owne outrage.’
Such pafuo For thilke foolis, which that list onbynde
unbind Unhappy This wrechche callid Onhappi Auenture,
venture and : 7
call her a Off witt & resoun thei make hemseluen blynde,
Lich as the world stood in Fortunys cure,
As thouh she myhte assure hem & onsure,
And hem dispose to welthe or wrechchidnesse, —
In ther errour hir callyng a goddesse!
ar pues Such wilful wrechchis that hemsilff betake
having given us ‘]’o putte ther fredam in hir subieccioun,
ree choice of :
good and evil. Off God aboue the power thei forsake,
And hem submitte, ageyn[e]s al resoun,
Vnder Fortunis transmutacioun,
Ther liberte ful falsli for to thrall,
Namli whan thei a goddesse list hir call.
With a dirk myst off variacioun
Fortune hath cloudid ther cleer natural liht,
And ouershadwed ther discrecioun,
That thei be blent in ther inward siht
For to considre and to beholde ariht,
650. dispoise R. 661. And] And hath R.
624
628
632
636
644
648
652
656
BK. 111] It ts wrong to worship Fortune 347
How God aboue put vnder mannys cure 664
Fre chois off good, his resou” to assure.
The Lord enlumyned off his bounteuous eee
largesse [p. 153] fuise for his
With mynde and witt his memoriall, tele a
Toward al vertu his steppis for to dresse, 668 irrational out
Endued his resoun for to be naturall, ness, and bound
Off frowardnesse till he wex bestiall, ies
To bynde hymsilff contrariousli in deede
To serue Fortune, atwixen hope and dreede. 672
Thus bestiall folk made hire a goddesse, ee re
Falsli wenyng she myhte hem most auaile paper niay
With hir plentes off habundant richesse; him.
And summe demen in ther supposaile, 676
With onwar chaung she dar the grete assaile,
Whos trust[e] alwei medlid is with trouble,
And hir plesaunce includith menyng double.
And summe afferme that she mai auaunce
Conquestis grete and disconfitures,
And how [it] lith also in hir puissaunce
To forthre & hyndre all maner creatures,
And calle hir pryncesse off fatal auentures,
The riche tenhaunce be roial apparaile,
And be disdeyn to hyndre the poraile.
Whan she maketh most fulsumli hir profres,
Hir blaundisshyng is farsid with falsheed;
Whan hir richessis be stuffid up in coffres,
Thei been ay shet vnder a lok off dreed.
Wherfore, ye riche, off o thyng takith heed,
As your gadryng cam in with plesaunce,
Riht so your losse departeth with myschaunce.
Your gredi thrust tresour to multeplie
Causith an etik off nounsuffisaunce,
In you engendryng a fals ydropisie,
With a sharp hunger off worldli habundaunce,
Makyng off you a maner resemblaunce
666. his] om. P — illumyned R.
Some people
680 Gaim that she
can give victory
and further or
hinder all
creatures.
684
When she
Se most,
er flattery is
688 stuffed with lies;
when her wealth
is piled up in
chests, they are
closed with a
lock of dread.
692
Therefore, you
rich, fearing loss,
your greed only
crecnece a
ever for more
696 wealth, and you
are very much
like Tantalus.
. t5 transposed with 670 and 671, and blunder indicated by
etters a pi bR.
678. is medlid H. 682. how] om. R.
684. fatal]al maner R. 691. ye] the R.
672. 1s misplaced at foot of column R.
348 The Fate of King Hostilius [ BK. III
With Tantalus, — whan ye deppest synke,
Than is your nature most thrustleuh for to drynke. 700
Peers climbs Who clymbeth hiest on Fortunys wheel
Fortuna’s wheel And sodenli to richesse* doth ascende,
least meri it: An onwar turn, afforn seyn neueradeel,
exempt from Whan he leest wenyth makith hym descende. 704
nae’ Fro such chaungis, who may hymselff defende,
But thei that be with Pouert nat dismaied,
And can with litil holde hemsilff appaied.”
[How kyng hostilius worshippyng fals goddis/ was
consumpt with firy Levene. |!
We oo A ND whil Bochas gan muse in this mateer, 708
uae Considred first al worldhi thyng mut faile,
princes who wereWith wepyng eien [to hym] ther dede appeer
f
Italy came to Pryncis that whilom wer famotis in Itaile,
their fail.» Which gan ther fall ful pitousli bewaile: 712
For mor contrarie* was ther fallyng lowe,
That thei toforn hadde [of] no myscheeff knowe.
harder. For mor vnkouth is thilke aduersite,
prince to bear Namli to pryncis, whan it is sodeyne, 716
rete ng hee Which euer ha lyued in prosperite,
discomfort. Hauyng on Fortune no mater to compleyne,
Than off a wrechche, that lyueth ay in peyne, —
Off custom causeth, conceyued the sentence, 720
Off ioie and sorwe a ful gret difference.
png remem: , Off ioie passid the newe remembraunce,
oe their Whan folk be falle from ther felicite,
In treble wise it doth hem gret greuaunce; 724
Thonwar turn from ther tranquillite,
Thonsur trust and mutabilite |
In worldli power, which that thei ha[ue] founde,
Onto ther hertis yeueth a greuous wounde. 728
but « man who But a wrechche, which in wrechchidnesse
has always
known want is Hfath euer lyued, and neuer was partable
proof against
misfortune. | Off no weelfare nor off welfulnesse,
700. your nature is R — for] om. R.
702. richesses B, richessis J.
708. in] on H — mateer] maner R.
710. to vr om. J, R. 713. contraire B. 714. of] om. J, R
731. and off | of no H — wealthfulnes P.
1 MS. J. leaf 63 recto.
BK. II] King Hostilius becomes Ill
Nor neuer fo[u]nd[e] Fortune fauourable, —
His sorwe, his myscheeff been so custumable,
That off his peynys long contynuaunce
Doth to his greuys a maner allegaunce.
But to pryncis, which sat so hih aloffte,
A sodeyn fall is most contrarious,
And ther descendyng weel the more onsoffte,
In ther tryumphes that thei wer glorious.
Record I take off kyng Hostilius,
Which in Rome from his roial stalle,
Whan he sat crownyd, most sodenll is falle.
It is remembrid off old and nat off newe,
Off al Rome that he was lord and sire;
The firste off kynges that wered purpil hewe,
And off that cite gouerned the empire,
Hadde off Fortune al that hym list desire,
Till that he fill, in all his regalie,
Into a froward dedli maladie.
And off his peynes to fynden allegaunce, _[p.
To the temples he wente on pilgrymage,
His offryng made with deuout obeisaunce,
Wherbi sumdeel his peynes gan asswage;
And when he was restored off corage,
Felt hymsilff[e] that he dede amende,
To comourn profht ageyn he gan entende.
Vpon Thalbanys, regnyng in his glorie,*
To gret auail off Rome the cite,
Thoruh his knyhthod he hadde a gret victorie,
Afftir the which, be ful gret cruelte,
He beraffte hem fraunchise and liberte,
And made hem afftir, thoruh his hih renoun,
To been to Rome vnder subieccioun.
Afftir this conquest, the stori doth deuyse,
In his noblesse ful staatli and roial,
He gan make a riche sacrifice
To queeme and plese for a memorial,
Affter the rihtes cerymonyal,
746. the empire] he thempire R.
757. Talbanys R — gloire B.
759. victoire B.
764. this] his R
349
732
That princes
736 suffer greatly is
shewn by the
fall of King
Hostilius of
me,
740
the first king
moe were 4
purple, an
744 who had every-
thing he desired
anu he became
748
I 5 4] He grew eet
after he had
ee a devout
pilgrimage to
752 the temples of
his country,
756
and was
victorious over
the Albans.
760
After this
764 victory he made
a rich sacrifice
to Jupiter,
768
350 Hostilius 1s slain by Lightning [ BK. III
To Iubiter, be ful gret reuerence,
Aforn his auteres with fires & encence.
bur unfortunate But for that he in his inward entent,
wrong, and so 1 1 '
ene ae Be circumstaunces off his oblacioun, 772
that they con- Was rechles founde and also necligent,
sumed him with :
lightning. Be sum froward fals affeccioun,
The goddis kauhte an indignacioun;
And sodenli descendyng from the heuene, 776
He was consumpt with a firi leuene, —
His false gods, His false goddis myhte hym nat auaile,
Jupiter, Satura :
andVenus, Tubiter, Saturnus nor Venus.
were unable to : :
help him. All Lat al Christene defie such rascaile; 780
Christians should ; : =
defy such For to our feith thei be contrarious.
fer And among goddis, a thyng most outraious,
Ys, whan that pryncis, blent in ther folie,
List ertheli thynges falsli deifie. 784
anv’ “For onto God is hatful and odible
earthly things A withdrawyng off his reuerence,
to God. To magnefie thynges coruptible
With ondue honours, be fals concupiscence. 788
Wherfor, ye Pryncis, beth war, off hih prudence,
List God onwarli pun[y]she your noblesse,
Maak you in erthe no fals god nor goddesse.
[How Anchus kyng of Rome was moordred by
Lucynyo, bi thassent of his wiff. ]!
Ancus Marcius HYNKITH on Anchus, kyng off Rome toun, 792
succeeded to . : .
Hostilius, and Which was so noble shynyng in his glorie,
with the consent Wered a crowne, ful famous off renoun,
"Next Hostilius, as put 1s in memorie,
Wan the palme off many gret victorie; 796
But for al that, with a ful sharp[e] knyff
He moordred was bassentyng off his wyff.
hom he greatl 1
whom he greatly Ffe loued hir best aboue ech creature,
her falseness; (Considred nat hir flatrie nor falsnesse, 800
for she coveted :
hie riches. | Hir double menyng vnder couerture
Falsli blent this pryncis worthynesse.
To robbe and reue hym off his gret richesse
770] Afore his auctirs with fiere & ensence R.
777. m4 fiere R. batched
783. Ys] Ye R. 785. is]itisH. 788. be] with R.
1 MS. J. leaf 63 verso.
BK. nr] The Murder of Ancus Marcius
Was hir labour, with countirfet plesaunce,
In hir entent to brynge hym to myschaunce.
This Anchus hadde a gret affeccioun,
Onto his goddis to make sacrifises,
And to augmente the religioun
Off paganysme, maad in sundri wises.
Thoruh his manhod and circumspect deuyses,
Vpon Latynes, rebel to his cite,
For comoun profit he made a gret arme.
Oon off ther cites, callid Politorie,
He knyhtli wan, maugre al ther myht;
And whan he hadde off hem ful victorie,
He abod no lenger, but anon foorth ryht
Made al the peeple, in eueri mannys siht,
As prisoneris, this Romayn champiouz,
Be brouht aforn hym bounde into the toun.
Eek, as I fynde, this Anchus nolde cese,
For comouzn profit in his affeccioun,
Ther teritories taugmenten and encrese
In all the cuntres abouten enviroun
Toward the ryuer wher Tibre renneth dour;
At which[e] place he leet[e] edefie
A ful strong cite, which callid is Ostie.
But natwithstandyng al his worthynesse,
He was depryued, the story tellith so,
Off his kyngdam and his gret richesse
Bi a foreyn callid Lucynyo.
His wiff Tarquild assentid was therto,
Bi whos outrage and gredi couetise
Anchus was moordred in ful cruel wise.
351
Ancus was a
devout pagan
and defeated the
tins
808
812
and brought
many of
them prisoners
to Rome.
816
He was always
busy to increase
the territories of
Rome, and built
Ostia.
820
824
Nevertheless he
mae murceres
y an alien
828 named Lucinio.
832
[How Lucynyo that mordred Anchus was aftir
mordred. | !
HUS fro the wheel of Fortune he is fall; [p. 155] Lvcitic, 4.
Lucynio in Rome is crownyd kyng,
And the Romayns afftir dede hym call
Tarquyn the olde, be record off writyng.
813. ther]the R—pylitorie R. 821. ue this R.
822. encrese}crese R. 824. wher] om. H.
830. Lucimyo H. 831. Tanquild R.
833.
1 MS. J. leaf 64 recto.
in ful cruel wise] as ye have herd devise H, R 3, H 5.
crown
hie freed and
is fraud an
836 eloquence
352 The Murder of Lucinio who slew Ancus (BK. 111
Which hath atteyned, be fraudulent werkyng,
And bi his subtil forged eloquence
Onto thestat off roial excellence. 840
the pose wan He first ordeyned in his estat roial
ong nail Turneis, iustes in castell[s] and cites,
institute And other pleies callid marcial,
taverns. e e
With many famous gret solempnites, 844
- Sessiouns for statis and degrees.
This Tarquyn eek, was first that‘dede his peyne
In open stretis tauernys to ordeyne.
fret to wall Eek to preserue his cite out off doubte, 848
Rome and to “Yiff ther enmyes list them to assaile,
uild towers for
defence. He He was the first that wallid Rome aboute
conquered the
Sabines and With myhti tours, onlikli for to faile,
Tanaquil. And hadde also many strong bataile 852
With the Sabynes in ther rebellioun,
And made hem subiect onto Rome toun.
But for he was assentid to depryue
Worthi Anchus from his estat roial, 856
And afftir that took Tarquyld [on]to wyue,
Which slouh hir lord be tresoun ful mortal,
God wolde off mht that he sholde haue a fal:
The Lord wil nat, which euery thyng may see, 860
Suffre moordre longe to be secre.
God would not For Lucynio, for his gret offence,
to prosper, #0 be ‘Touchyng the moordre off the kyng Anchus,
two shepherds Tslay[e]n was be sodeyn violence 864
Off too shepperdis, the stori tellith thus,
Which off entent[e] wer contrarious
Atwen hemsilff[e] be a feyned striff,
To fynde a weie to reue hym off his liff. 868
fo came before For whil the kyng sat in iugement
him on the
pretence of tien Upon ther quarel for to do iustise,
fell on bim with Ful sodenli, thei beyng off assent,
Fill vpon hym in ful cruel wise, 872
And with an ax, the story doth deuise,
Oon off hem, or any man took heed,
On too parties roff the kynges hed.
854. subiect] sogettis H. .
857. tanquyld J, Tanaquil P, Tanquile H s.
860. euery | euere R.
870. quarellis H.
BK. 11] An Envoy on Slander, Murder and Poison 353
This thyng was doon bi the procuryng Sota
Off too childre, sonys to Anchus, sition af
Which were exilid be fals compassyng children,
Off Lucinio, ageyn hem most irous, — had exiled.
To hym ther presence was so odious. 880
But thei hem shoop, thouh thei were out off siht,
Ther fadres deth tauengen yiff thei myht.
For off nature blood will vengid be, ee aves
To recompense the wrong off his kynreede, 884 ye in this
In this chapitle, lik as ye may see, rinces remem-
Blood shad for blood: thus bothe dede bleede. .
Be which exaumple, lat pryncis taken heede,
How moordre doon for supplantacioun* 888
Requereth vengaunce for his fynal guerdoun.
[Lenvoye. ]
HIS tragedie be cleer inspeccioun Ett eee A
Openli declareth in substaunce, _ Get
How slauhtre of princis causith subuersioun 892 princes causes
Off rewmys, cites put out off ordynaunce, . serine una erick
Off mortal werre long contynuaunce. acaba
Blood be supplantyng* shad off kynges tweyne,
Bexaumple heer shewed, fals moordre to restreyne, 896
The fyn declaryng off moordre & fals tresoun:
The deede horrible crieth ay vengaunce
To God aboue to caste his eien doun,
To punshe this synne thoruh his myhti puissaunce; goo
For it is mooder off myscheeff & myschaunce.
Wherfor, ye Pryncis, doth sum lawe ordeyne,
Withynne your boundis thre vices to restreyne:
The vice off sclaundre, moordre and poisoun. —go4 prewefore,
Wher-euer these thre hauen aqueyntaunce, the evils of ae
Thei brynge in sorwe and desolacioun, and poiton, and
Put at a preeff be newe remembraunce desolation they
Off falsheed vsed vnder fair cuntenaunce. Soe aramiedia your
realms.
Wherfor, ye Pryncis, doth your besi peyne,
Withynze your boundis these vices to restreyne.
888. Supplantscioue B.
895. subplant
goo. thoruh] ree
354 Concerning Tarquin and Lucrece (BK. 11
God defead _, God diffende this noble regioun
Rey ee With these thre vices to haue* alliaunce: 912
and fromm inane: For sclaundre first deuoureth hih renoun,
punishment is And sleth good fame thoruh fals dalliaunce.
tpo severe for Farm doon, to late folweth repentaunce,
Wherfor, ye Pryncis, doth a lawe ordeyne 916
To punshe ther malice, fals tunges to restreyne.
God hath off moordre abhominacioun, [p. 156]
And fals poisoun doth to hym displesaunce;
Ther is no peyen* in comparisoun 920
Condigne to moordre, peised in ballaunce.
Wherfor, ye Pryncis, makith an ordynaunce,
Withynnze your boundis off sum dedli peyne
Bi du{e] punshyng fals moordre to restreyne. 924
inte the O noble Pryncis, prouydeth off resoun
final reward of Ageyn these vices to make purueiaunce,
es¢ vices. ‘é e
Off rigour sheweth due execucioun
With al your labour & your hertli instaunce. 928
Lat deth be guerdoun for ther fynal penaunce,
To warne all othre, be constreynt off ther peyne,
Fro these thre vices ther corages to restreyne.
[How for the offence don to Lucrece by Tarquyn
was never aftir crowned kyng in Rome. |!
Ae prone te UCHING this Tarquyn, of whom I now[e] 932
long dominated tolde :
Rome, until the , ;
time of the Rape As myn auctour maketh mencioun,
of Lucrece. . =
Then the name He callid was Tarquinius the olde,
on king came © Which longe in Rome hadde dominacioun,
Till his kynreede and generacioun, 936
For thoffence doon onto Lucrece,
Caused off kynges the name [for] to cese.
Old Tarquin’s For his sone, which afftir gan succeede,
son was Called
Tarquin the ; ° .
Proud for his evil For his outrages and his extorsiouns, 940
me d for many a-nother cruel deede,
gil. ahiee the R. 912. thre vices] regions R — haue]
hauen B.
913-15 are placa by 904-6 R. or. ther] the R.
920. peyne B. 924. punishyng P.
932. i nowel riht now IH.
933. There 1s a contraction sign for ur over the u in auctour B.
934. Tarquinus R. 936. Till} Al H. 937. onto] to H.
938. for] om. R, J, P—names P. 939. sone] sony R.
1 MS. J. leaf 64 verso.
BK. 111 Tarquin and Lucrece
For his haatful vsurpaciouns,
His froward liff and fals condiciouns,
Among the peeple, bothe stille and loude,
He callid was Tarquinius the proude.
Ful obstynat he was in his entent,
Ambicious tacroche gret richesse,
Till that Fortune wex inpacient
Ageyn[e]s hym, in al his gret noblesse.
Gan hir snares and hir crokes dresse,
Thouhte she wolde, but he kept hym weel,
Al sodenli cast hym from hir wheel.
A sone he hadde, ful vicious, as I fynde,
To all vertu most contrarious —
To be froward it cam to hym off kynde —
And off nature proud and despitous,
Ageyn the peeple fell and malicious,
Nat louyd but drad; for tirannye off riht
Is thyng most hatid in the peeplis siht.
This proude Tarquyn, the story is weel kouth,
Ageyn Lucrece dede a gret outrage,
Oppressid hir beute in his onbridled youth,
Hir trouthe assailyng in a furious rage.
For which his fader, he, and his lynage
Exilid wern, and for this hatful thyng
Ther was neuer afftir in Rome crownyd kyng.
- Hir bodi corupt, she cleene off herte & thouht,
Be force assailed was hir innocence,
Oppressid hir beute, but hir sperit nouht,
Hir chaast[e] will dede non offence;
But entred is into hir conscience
A gret remors, for al hir wifli trouthe,
To slen hirsilff, which was to gret a routhe.
And for that Bochas remembreth pitousli
Hir dedli sorwe and lamentacioun,
Writ hir compleynt in ordre ceriousli,
Which that she made for hir oppressioun,
I folwe muste and make mencioun,
Afftir myn auctour parcel rehersyng,
Touchyng hir woordis said in hir deieng.
945. Terquinius R.
948. Impacient R, H.
g8o. 1st hir] be H.
355
Obstinate and
avaricious, he
reigned until
oe at
im down from
948 her wheel.
952
It was his
vicious son,
hated and feared
by the people,
956
who outraged
Lucrece; and for
that deed he and
his father and
all their kin
were exiled.
964
Although
eee chaste
will did no
968 offence, she slew
herself for re-
morse;
972
and as Bochas
wrote her dying
complaint, so
must I,
976
980
959. peeple R. 963. Hir] His R.
356 The Complaint of Lucrece
ag Al-be-it so, be biddyng off my lord,
pa poin Rehersed haue in my translacioun
bidding of my Afftir Pierius heer and ther a woord
Off a ful doolful declamacioun
Be hym remembred off entencioun,
For hir sake men myhte seen and rede
What wifli trouthe was in hir womanheede.
yonnngt foror, And Iohn Bochas list nat sette a-side,
eloquence, but! But that he wolde rehersen in sentence
pobaianee his Hir woful compleynt, & therupon abide,
Off wrongis doon onto hir innocence.
And thouh I cannat folwe his eloquence,
I shal sue the trouthe off rehersyng
As in substaunce theffect off his writyng.
The morning ~@ The morwe next afftir this foule deede,
deed, Lucrece Lucrece vproos with a ful dedli cheer.
deadly pale face Out off hir face gon was al the rede,
in funereal black And dirked wern hir heuenli eien cleer,
Al clad in blak[e] afftir the maneer
Off thilke folk which in especiall
Ar wont to gon to feestis funerall.
end said to her All hir freendis beyng in presence,
ira gaia Husbonde, fader, with other eek also,
Bi and bi rehersyng in sentence
The circumstaunces off hir hertli wo.
And or that I any ferther go,
Vnder hope my lord will me supporte,
What that she saide I will to you reporte.
[ BK. III
[p. 157]
1008
[The greuous compleynt of Lucrece vpon hir oppres-
sioun. | !
, My lord, since «¢ WXOQR-ASMOCHE,” quod she, “as I Lucrece
I, Lucrece, am
joined to ote Am be the lawe itoyned in mariage
humble subject, To the, my lord, whos loue shal ay encrece
Towardis the, with al the surplusage
Off wifli trouthe tenduren al myn age,
As humble subiect with feithful obeisaunce
Vnder thi lordshipe and thi gouernaunce,
1012
98. one R, Pieryns H, aia J, pyernus R 3, pyrrus H s,
ierius P 986.
991. onto] to R. 996. dali doc on H. ol hir] his R.
999. Al] And R. — ro00. folk
1 MS. J. leaf bi: verso.
any] may R.
BK. I11 | The Complaint of Lucrece
O Colatyn, my lord and trewe husbonde,
Best beloued off hool affeccioun,
I will no mor no quarell take on honde
Nor in no wise make non accioum,
Withoute that thou list enclyne doun
Goodli thyn eris to yiue me audience
To that I shall reherse in thi presence.
Iniurie doon or any maner wrong
Ageyn my worshepe or myn honeste,
Bi the lawe my sentence is maad strong,
It touchet(h] you also weel as me,
I am so hooli yolden onto the, —
Thou art myn hed, who cleerli can discerne,
Lord and husbonde my bodi to gouerne.
Parcial causes in sooth ther may non be
Atwen vs tweyne nor no disseueraunce:
For soote and bittir, io1e and aduersite,
We must hem weie bothe in o balaunce,
Countirpeise our sorwes [&] our plesaunce,
Entirmedle all thynge that is in doubte,
Receyue our fortune as it komth aboute.
Ther may atwen vs be no menyng double,
But oon herte, o will and o corage.
And as [a] woman that stondeth now in trouble,
Withoute polishyng off any fair language,
I mut disclose to you the gret outrage
Doon onto me, and pleynli it discure,
Which to redresse lith hooli in your cure..
For the mater, to speke in woordes pleyne,
A-riht out serchid and the trouthe out founde,
As a iust cause, ondifferent to tweyne
Toward vs bothe the quarell doth rebounde.
And mor strongli our mater for to grounde,
Reherse I will, so that ye sauff it vouche,
A mortall wrong which the & me doth touche.
1018.
1022.
1024.
1034.
1037.
1038.
1045.
ned none R.
reherse in thi presence] rehersen in sentence H.
or]}&R. 1027. hooli] om. R.
&j om. J, Hs, R
menyng | m g
o will o hert 4 —
and o] one R.
A-riht] at nht H.
357
O best beloved
1016 Collatine, I will
take no action
until you have
heard my story.
1020
“Injury done to
my honesty
touches you as
1024 well as me.
1028
There may be
no sundering of
our joy an
adversity: we
must wei
them bo
balance;
1032 :
3 in one
1036
and as no deceit
can be between
us, I must
frankly disclose
to you my
outrage, which
1040 it lies in your
power to
redress.
“Tet is a mortal
wrong, which
you must clearly
understand.
®
1048
358 The Complaint of Lucrece
co wat in a In a castell which callid is Collace,
lace,when_ =| Off which my lord heer hath the gouernaunce,
young Tarquin .
appeared Tarquyn the yonge cam into that place.
warning. I, full diswarre to make purueiaunce
Ageyn his comyng or any ordenaunce,
Toforn nat warnyd off his officeris,
Sat onpurueied among my chaumbereris.
ao twig ig Off entent teschewen idilnesse,
my women sat We sat and span vpon wolles soffte;
spinning soft : ‘ °
wools. For she off vices is a cheeff maistresse
Wher she is cherisshid & iset aloffte:
But off custum as I haue do ful offte,
I and my women duli as we ouhte,
Tauoide slouthe ful bisili we wrouhte.
Vie came in |, His ent[e]ryng was meek and debonaire,
and deceived me Benypne off port, off look & off visage,
were contrary With a pretence off many woordes faire,
In whos menyng was ful gret outrage,
His cheer contrarie* onto his corage.
In this wise ther he was receuyed,
Wherbi, alas, I falsli was deceyued!
« : : .
conceived him At pryme face, as me thouhte it due,
became a ma iS] °
epee I hym receyued at his in comyng:
yet all the while Roos up meekli and gan hym to salue,
e intended to
betray me. | As appertened in alle maner thyng
Onto the sone off a worthi kyng.
And treuli Tarquyn, for which I sete alas,
Me to be-traisshe stood in the same caas.
ta von of a. A kynges sone sholde off dufe]te !
a protector of Been to wommen wall and proteccioun,
women and play
ia art of a Preserue and keepe hem in al surete,
Doon hem no wrong nor oppressioun,
1058. teschewen]toshew B. 1064. we] om. R.
That no man sholde, off no presumpcioun,
(BK. nt
1052
1056
1060
1064
1068
1072
1076
1080
1067. many]may R. 1069. contraire B. 1074. to] om. R.
1 The following five lines, to which are appended the two last of -
. the preceding stanza, are inserted before line 1079 as a complete
stanza in the Phillipps-Garrett MS., section 10, leaf 6a:
I trusted well his riall noblesse
Be any sing bat y koub a spie
He no bing ment but troup & gentilnesse
But oft falleth as clerkes specefie
Vndre fair speche men may treson wrye.
BK. 11] The Complaint of Lucrece 359
Rather deie than seen hem suffre onrtht, 1084
Aduertisynge thoffice off a knyht.
But in contraire off knyhthod he hath wrouht, [p.158] cB, cere
Be fals outrage doon ageyn[e]s me. mene ta break
Wrong[e] weies and crokid menys souht 1088 natural law in
Off lawes tweyne to breke the liberte, hae
And difface the auctorite
Off lawe ciuyle & natural also,
In my persone offendyng bothe too. 1092
First be his fals[e] subtil compassyng Bilasctag ia deg
He gan espie thestris off the place; se eeg then,
And whan a-bedde alone I lay slepyng, asleep in bed
Lik a leoun, ful sterne off look and face, 1006 like a lio,
With his lefft hand my throte he dede enbrace,
And in his other heeld ageyn al lawe
Me for toppresse a naked suerd idrawe.
Thus afforcyng my wifli chastite, 1100 £04, seizing me
Ageyn knyhthod he dede this gret offence, ates! ny
Mi liff, my worshepe put in perplexite, sword if I would
Hauyng no myht to make resistence, — commie
Me manacyng be dedli violence, al
The ton off tweyne: to deie in his entente,
Or to auoutri* falsli to consente.
Thus I stood sool atwen deth & diffame, eee
Mi bodi corupt, my sperit abood[e] cleene; p108 $08 Shorr
Mi spousaile broke, & my good[e] name cunted ay et
For ever disclaundred, that whilom shon ful sheene. good name
‘ . estroyed for
Euel fame off custum will alwei wexe greene, ever.
Neuer deie, the peeple so hem disporte 1112
The werste off thynges gladli to reporte.
“ Alas, th t
Alas, alas! among my sorwes all, . aioe! ay.
This oon the moste that doth myn herte agrise; — — srrowsiethat
I am nat worthi that men me sholde call, 1116 worthy to be
< . called your wife!
Or haue the name in no maner wise,
For thoffence which ye han herd deuise,
To be callid, in this wrecchid lif,
Off Collatyn from hen{ne]sfoorth the wiff. 1120
1106. tauoutri B.
1108. my] in H.
1112. hem so H.
1113. thynges] al H.
1115. the] om. R
360 The Complaint and Death of Lucrece (BK. IIt
bite’ win Myn eien also be blyndid with derknesse,
shame: never Qnli for shame to lefften vp ther siht,
reckoned as an Quther ther stremys or bemys vp to dresse,
onest matron! a
Off the cleer heuene to looke vpon the liht. 1124
Nor I mai neuer been off the noumbre off nht,
Off trewe matrones, among hem ferr nor neer,
For to be rekned in ther kalendeer.
bee a7 ity Lat myn Iniurie and this mortal cryme 1128
baat it AY sing BE SO punly]shed off riht and equite,
example to Withoute delay off any lenger tyme,
adultcrers, e e
That euer afftir it may exaumple be
Thoruh al the world and eek in this cite, — 1132
With such a peyne therupon deuised,
That all auoutours may be therbi chastised.
** And if it seems
to you that ltoo nd yiff it seeme in your opynyoun,
a7 Garacay, In this caas I sholde been onpure, 1136
accept my = J will receyue iust punycioun
punishment. : .
And the peyne pacientli endure,
Yiff it so stonde that parauenture
Ye deeme off resoun, that be so iust & stable, —_ 1140
In this mateer that I be coupable.”
After she had Hir tale told. Whan thei longe hadde musid
and they had =» On this compleynt in ther inward siht,
all blame and Off trouthe echon thei heeld hir ful excusid, 1144
promised to
avenge her | Made all beheste, with al ther ful[le] myht
wrong, she too ° °
a sharp knifeand 1 auenge hir wrong; and Lucrece anon mht
pierced herself
to the heart, Look a sharp knyff, or thei myhte aduerte,
And rooff hirsilff euene thoruh the herte. 1148
q The Compleynt of Bochas Oppon pe luxurie of
Princis by examplis of diuers myschevis.! .
ot Ba in herte brennyng hoot as fir
ef aad Off verai ire and indignacioun
plaint against S poe . 7
those princes, Ageyn tho princis, which in ther desir
Han fulli set ther delectacioun, 1152
Ther felicite and ther affeccioun
To folwe ther lustis off fals lecherie,
Froward spousbreche and off auoutnie.
1125. neuer]om. R. 1126. nor] or R.
1140. be]it be H. 1141. coulpable R.
1148. thoruh] to H. 1149. hoot] as hoote H.
1 he same beading in J and R. by] as by J — many dyuers J —
myschevis ] myschaunces R, J.
BK. 111 ] Bochas on the Immorality of Princes 361
He writ ageyn hem that seeke occasiouns, 1156 "ho following
Places off lust to han ther libertees desires, commit
: adultery, and
For to fulfille ther delectaciouns; afterwards
‘ < publicly boast
And for tacomplisshe ther gret dishonestees, of theig folly.
Deuyse out tauernes in burwes & citees, 1160
And sittyng ther among ther cumpanye,
Afftir the deede thei booste off ther folye.
Yiff any man pynche at ther outrage, [p. 159] any man
Or them rebuke for ther tran[s]gressiouns, 1164 they will. tell
Thei will ansuere with froward fals language, a law of
rs ature
And for ther parti allegge gret resouns: such things in
First how it longeth to ther condiciouns ee abe
Be mht off Nature, as it is weel kouth, 1168
Freli to vse lecheri in youth;
Afferme also, how lawe of Kynde is fre, ier id
And so afforce hem to sustene ther partie Betiebeva ced
Bexaumple off Dauid, which that took Bersabe, 1172 Delilah in their
And for hir sake how he slouh Vrie, sa
Dede manslauhtre and fals auoutrie, —
For hem aleggyng, ageyn mht and resoun,
For Dalida the luxure off Sampsoun. 1176
The stori also thei frowardli applie, eng eats nom
How for a woman prudent Salamoun, pine amidelster
The Lord offendyng, dede ydolatrie. woman; — asif
° ° harlotry were no
And in diffence off ther opynyoun, 1180 sin before God!
Reherse these storyes for excusacioun
Off ther errour, therbi a pris to wynne,
As tofor God lecheri wer no synne.
Thei nat considre in ther entencioun i184, fa Re ce
Off these stories eueri circumstaunce: remorte of
e eo e e + ven-
First off kyng Dauid the gret contricioun, eance on
amson,
Nor vpon Sampson how God took gret vengaunce;
First how he loste his force & his puissaunce —1188
For his offence — thei ha[ue] nat this in mynde,
Nor how that bothe his eien wer maad blynde.
Nor ther resouns thei list nat to enclyne oe om ee
For to conceyue in ther discrecioun, Bigg: deprived of Me
The sperit off wisdam, heuenli & dyuyne, for his offence,
and,
Was take away fro prudent Salamoun doctors affirm,
I h 2 f hi ; sorely repented
n chastisyng for his transgressioun. afterwards.
1157. lust] lustes R.
1171. so afforce] tafforce H.
362 Bochas on the Immorality of Princes
And summe doctours affermen ouermore,
How Salamon repentid hym ful sore.
Feonie sy ‘hat The play off youthe folk calle it lecherie,
ness of youth is Seyn that it is a gamen off Nature,
Beslthy sain’ And to sustene and bern vp ther partie,
of vicious How it sit weel, be record off scripture,
ind boast and Onto euerich liffli creature
pomitie cake, Ehat stant in helthe and is coraious,
rd eeeccnh Off verrai kynde for to be lecherous.
courtesy. ee . ;
Vicious report thei han in remembraunce,
But vertuous thyng is ferr out off mynde;
Flesshli lustis and lecherous plesaunce
In ther desirs be nat lefft behynde.
1200
1204
1208
Auauntyng, lieng thei can off newe out fynde;
And now-adaies thei holde curtesie
Othes horrible, flatryng and ribaudie.
thek feu in ther auys thei taken litil heede
Scipio and of his Onto the doctryn off noble Scipioun,
Masinissa cither Which comaundid, in story as I reede,
Sophonisba alone 10 Masmissa, ful famous off renoun,
or else marry her- NT 4¢ to touche be no condicioun
Sophonisba, fairest off visage,
But yiff it were be weie off mariage.
Although cf ~— Thouh she wer born off the blood roiall,
she was virtuous Fir youthe was set to al honeste,
King Syphax, DJouhter and hair to noble Hastruball,
Nowe “™ Duc off Cartage, the story ye may see;
And for hir vertues off femynyte,
She weddid was, off berthe as she was lik,
To kyng Siphax, which regned in Affrik.
And for to preue the grete liberte
and the = | Which is in vertu conveied be resoun,
Coie And the fals thraldam off dishoneste, —
that the Mpject Off bothe to make a pleyn comparisoun,
to Fortuna. = Afftir the doctryn off Censoryn Catouz,
Shewid be hym to folkis in comune,
That vertu neuer 1s subiect to Fortune:
1196. evir more H. 1 a game H.
1210. holde it curtasye H.
1223. vertues] vertuous R.
1224. was weddyd R.
1215. Mascinissa_P.
i212
1224
1228
1232
BK. 111]
Vertu conserueth mesour and resoun,
Considreth thynges aforn or thei befall,
Takith non enprises but off discrecioun,
And on prudence foundeth hir werkes all;
Ay to hir counsail attempraunce she doth call,
Warli prouydyng in hirsilff withynne
The eende off thynges toforn or she begynne.
This was the doctryn tauht foorth off Catoun,
Lecherous lustis to put hem vndir foote,
Grauntyng to vertu the domynacioun,
Plukke up vices, braunche, cropp & roote.
Frut off goodnesse groweth up so soote,
Whan it is plauntid off youthe in a corage,
It neuer appalleth in helthe off his tarage.
Catoun with vertu was a cheeff officer, [p.
Preferryng euer comoun commodites
Tofor profites that wer synguler;
Tenhaunce the comoun in kyngdames & citees,
Ther wittis peised and ther habilitees,
Personys promotyng, in whom it was supposid,
That thei in vertu wer natureli disposid.
Manli off herte he was ay to susteene
Indifferentli trouthe and al iustise;
Flesshli delites off folk that wer oncleene
He was ay redi be rigour to chastise,
And sette lawes in ful prudent wise
For to punshe flaterers and lechours
And such as wern openli auoutours.
He hadde off wommen non opynyoun
With hem to dele for lust nor for beute,
But yiff it were for procreacioun, —
So stable he was founde in his degre,
The book reedyng off inmortalite
Which Plato made, the trouthe weel out souht,
Therin concludyng, how soulis deie nouht,
But lyueth euer outher in ioie or peyne.
Thus wrot Plato in his orygynall:
Men may the body be deth ful weel constreyne,
1235. Emprises H. 1237. she] he R.
1239. toforn or at orthey R. 1245. a] ore
a in helthe off ] of helth in H, in hegh of R
5s. Immortalite H.
1268. lyueth’] lyven
1269. Thus] this H.
Bochas on the Immorality of Princes 363
Virtue has fore-
sight and under-
takes nothing
without
discretion,
1236
which was
1240 Cato’s doctrine.
1244
Cato lear
160] preferred the
1248 baer abe ne
dividual advan-
tage,
1252
and supported
justice and
truth, and was
ever ready
to punis
1256 unclean folk.
1260
He had no desire
to have ado with
women except
for procreation,
1264
and read Plato's
1268 k on the
immortality of
e soul.
A je : heyth of P.
iH
364 Bocbas on the Immorality of Princes
But the soule abit ay inmortall.
For which this Catoun, stedfast as a wall,
For comoun profit to deie was nat afferd,
Whan he hymsilff slouh with a naked suerd.
Cato was noe But to Fortune aforn his deth he saide,
Se tee 4 “O thou pryncesse off worldhi goodes veyne,
To thi flatereris I neuer dede abraide,
Thi fauour ts so fals and oncerteyne
That neuer I fauht no fraunchise to atteyne
As for my-silff, nor parcial syngulerte,
But al for profit touchyng the comounte.
Fortune, “I :
nore Sided to A-geyn Cesar I made resistence,
Doe etal To conquere fredam to me & to the toun,
myself. I resisted Freli teschewe his mortal violence,
Czsar for free-
dom’s sake and This world despisyng in myn opynyoun, —
k lif , bd : ° °
jenna the Our fraunchise thrallid vnder subieccioun,
oe Iustli forsakyng the variaunce off this liff,
Mi soule conveied to be contemplatiff.”’
Before his deat This philisophre, this prudent old Catoun,
Cato wrote “Tendryng in herte comoun comoditees,
moral princes to Toforn his deth wrot off compassioun
example of | Lo them that sat in roial dignitees,
Pus Which hadde off vertu lost the libertees,
Pryncis besechyng, that wer luxurious,
To take exaumple and folwe kyng Drusus.
who loved virtue @ The which{e] Drusus, be successioun
fai nial sone Heir to Augustus, was next hym emp?rour,
a Sett al in vertu his affeccioun,
And it to cherishe dede hooli his labour.
To lust onleefful he neuer gaff fauour;
And touchyng loue, duryng all his iff,
He neuer hadde lust but onli to his wiff.
Once when . ° . . .
Once when And in his paleis, myd off his roiall see,
incredulous (fF noble pryncis duellyng in Rome toun
impertinence e oe
what ert of — He axed was, for al his dignite,
attraction coul
hie wife have What maner corage or temptacioun,
at Or what feruence or delectacioun
1271. Immortall H, R.
[BK. mI
1272
1276
1280
1284
1288
1292
1296
1300
1304
1277. flatrers H. 1279. une ou H. 1280. nor] no R.
1286. OurJorH. 1287. this]
1302. to] til H.
isH. 1293. the] ther H.
BK. 111] Bochas on the Immorality of Princes 365
Withynze hymsailff he hadde off louys play, 1308
Sool bi his wiff whan he a-bedde lay.
And lik a prynce fulfillid off hih noblesse, pretest
Ansuerde ageyn with sobre cuntenaunce, SR ReN EE otc,
““Touchyng such lust as folweth flesshlynesse, —_1312
Lik as Nature me put in gouernaunce,
In oon alone is set al my plesaunce:
For with non other for no concupiscence,
Sauff with my wiff I neuer dede offence.” 1316
Pryncis echon folwe nat the traas ree dee
Off noble Drusus, as ye shal vndirstonde; Speed 1.
For summe hal[ue] stonde* al in a-nother caas, — __*teps.
Such as can holde too or thre on honde, 1320
Now heer, now ther, as botis home to londe,
Nat considryng ther cres nor disauail,
Whan newfangilnesse bloweth in ther sail.
g Eek Bochas writith, sum princis ha{ue] be poe Cyne te
founde, 1324 ertuede momen
. oe ‘ y flattery an
Which viciousli ha[ue] do ther besy peyne, oung girls with
Vertuous wommen be flatrie to confounde, and torments.
And tendre maidnes to bryngen in a treyne,
Such manacis & tormentis to ordeyne, 1328
Them to transfourme from ther perseueraunce
And interrupte ther virgynal constaunce.
But off such folk that yeue no fors off shame, [p. 161] Of all euch
shameless
Nor dreede God such treynes to deuise, £332 people mated
Husbondmen in soth ar most to blame worst: I’m |
° . ° sure their wives
With foreyn women to trespase in such wise: are quite
I trowe ther wyues may hem inouh suffise; erie cl then
For many ar feeble ther dettis for to quyte, 1336 fone in”
Thouh thei in chaung themsilff falsli delite. change,
. d say th
Summe afferme, for themsilff alleggyng, Nature gives
To such outrage that thei ha{ue] licence there permasicn
Freeli off Nature to vse ther owne thyng, 1340 Please with their
° ° own bodies.
And in such caas to no wiht doon offence. But they are
very hateful to
God.
But froward is ther errour in sentence,
Fro bond off wedlok, whan thei be so onstable,
And tofor God most hatful and dampnable. 1344
1311. Ageyn answerd R. 1317. traas] trac is H.
1319. stonden B. 1323. blowen H.
1333. arj}be R,erH. 1337. falsely hem silff H.
1338. ther silff H. 1343. Fro] For H.
366 Bocbas on the Immorality of Princes
Reason diss = For she that is thoruh hir hih noblesse
tinguishes the
life of man from Namyd off clerkis, which cleerli can concerne,
that of animals.
She has given Douhter off God, ladi and pryncesse,
him th -
edge olvight and Resoun callid, to guye man and gouerne,
power to resist, 1 Ween good and euel iustli to discerne, —
a She hath departid, pleynli to conclude,
The liff off man fro liff off beestis rude.
and shewn him ‘This ladi Resoun, sithen go ful yore,
has fied away, Gaff onto man witt and discrecioum,
beast rather “Tauhte hym also bi hir souereyn lore
Twen vice and vertu a gret dyuysioun,
And that he sholde in his eleccioun
Onto al vertu naturali obeie,
And in contraire al vicious liff werreie, —
bane humana’ And to enprente in his memorial,
How off luxure the gret dishoneste
Difforme a man & make hym bestial,
And disfigure, off what estaat he be:
For whan that resouz, in hih or low degre,
Is fled away, folk may afferme than,
He 1s lik a beeste rather than a man.
EE aleaelee Wherfor lat pryncis that ha[ue] be defectiff
their tives and To folwe ther lustis off sensualite,
ee Shape hem be resoun for tamende ther liff
honest fame of And to conserue and keepe ther chastite,
an Bothe off virgines* and wiffli honeste,
And to pun[y]she all tho that list laboure
The honest fame off wommen to deuoure.
ao For whan a lechour be force or be maistrie
name once st it Defoulid hath off virgynes the clennesse,
Widwes oppressid, and be auoutrie
Assailed wyues that stood in stabilnesse,
Who mai thanze ther sclaundrous harm redresse,
Whan ther good name is hurt be such report? —
For fame lost onys can neuer haue his resort.
1348. man] folk R.
1360. luxurie R.
1362. he] thei H.
1368. for] for to R.
1370. virgines] wyuys B.
[ BK. III
1348
1352
1356
1360
1364
1368
1372
1376
BK. 111 ]
A theeff may robbe a man off his richesse
And be sum mene make restitucioun;
And sum man may disherite & oppresse
A poore man from his possessioun,
And afftir[ward] make satisfaccioun;
But no man may restorg in no degre
A maide robbid off hir virgynyte.
A man mai also bete a castell doun,
And beelde it afftir mor fresshli to the siht,
Exile a man out off a regioun
And hym reuoke, wher it be wrong or mht;
But no man hath the poweer nor the myht
For to restore the paleis virgynal
Off chastite, whan broken 1s the wal.
Men mai also put out off seruise,
And officeres remeue from ther place,
And at a day, whan Fortune list deuise,
Thei mai ageyn restored been to grace;
But ther is nouther tyme set nor space,
Nor neuer in story nouther rad nor seyn,
That maidenhed lost recurid was ageyn.
For which men sholde haue a conscience,
Rewe in ther herte and repente sore,
And hal[ue] remors off ther gret offence,
To rauysshe thyng which thei may nat restore.
For it is said and hath be said ful yore,
The emeraud greene off parfit chastite,
Stole onys away may nat recurid be.
And hard it is to rauysshe a tresour
Which off nature is nat recuperable;
Lordshipe may nat, off kyng nor emperour,
Refourme a thyng which is nat reformable:
Rust off diffame is inseparable,
And maidenheed[e] lost off newe or yore,
No man alyue mai it ageyn restore.
1381. sum mene] forne men H.
Bochas on the Immorality of Princes 367
I 380 Thieves and
restitution; but
no man can
restore to a
maid her
1384 lost chastity.
A castle can be
pulled down and
I 388 afterwards re-
built: an exile
may be recalled;
1392
officials and
menials can be
discharged and
again cay ie into
I service; but
396 it has never
been told that
maidenhood
once lost was
ever again
pecov etd:
or this reason
1400 nen should have
conscience and
not take what
they cannot
return.
1404
Even the lord-
1408 ship of kings
cannot repair
that whi
is irrevocably
ruined.
1412
1384. afftirward| afftir J, P, H 5 —afftirward make] aftir
make dew R 3. ;
1389. 2nd ajhis H. 1390. wher] whedir R.
1398. tymenouthirH. 1404. thei may] maist H.
1413. maydenhoode H. ;
1414. on lyve H.
368 Bochas on the Immorality of Princes [ Bk. 111
The old Romans Romeyns olde thoruh ther pacience [p. 162]
patiently put u ‘ es A
with tyranteand Suffrede tirantis in ther tirannyes,
were careful to” And in ther cite to do gret violence,
punish adul- The peeple toppresse with ther robberies;
But to pun[y]she thei sette streiht espies
On fals auoutours, at it 1s weel kouth,
Widwes to rauysshe & maidnes in ther youth.
as is shewn by Vpon this mateer the stori berth witnesse,
the exile of King _
Tarquia and the Touchyng thexil off kyng Tarquynyus,
Claudius. Afforn rehersed be writyng ful expresse
The hatful deth off Appius Claudius
For his trespas doon to Virgynyus,
The iugementis rehersed and the peyne;
And fro ther office depryued bothe tweyne.
Was not the city Was nat the cite whilom desolat
of the Shechem-
ines laid Off Synachites for the* mbaudie
the crime of. Off oon Sychem, which gan a gret debat
phechem against 'T) haue* acomplisshed his foul lecherie,
Whan yonge Dyna, as bookis specefie,
Wente rek[e]lesli walkyng vp and doun
To seen the maidnes off that roial toun?
Be ee te But whan Sichem this Dyna dede espie
and assaulted Sool bi hirselff[e] walke in the cite,
her, for she ha
no chance to run He gan anon assaile hir be maistrie,
ave And for tafforcen hir virgynyte,
Because she hadde no leiser for to fle.
Whos gret offence and transgressioun
The cite brouhte onto destruccioun.
bat her father Hir fadir Iacob & hooli hir kynreede
rothers Simeon Ageyn this Sichem gan inwardli disdeyne;
herkin. Whan the furie off Mars was most to dreede,
; To be vengid thei dede ther besy peyne.
And speciali hir worthi brethren tweyne
Fill on the cite, Symeon and Leuy,
Tauenge ther suster & stroie it fynaly.
1417. citees R.
1418. thet with H.
1422. the] ther R.
1428. ther] the R.
1430. the] ther B, J, H, R, the H 1, H 5, Sloane, R 3.
1431. sichen R. 1432. Taue B.
1433. bookis] bochas R.
1416
1424
1428
1432
1436
1440
1448
— ge, ee
BK. 111 | Bochas on the Immorality of Princes 369
So mortalli thei gan with hem stryue, elites cal
With ther suerdis grounde sharp & keene, child alive.
Off male childre thei leffte non alyue, 1452
Thei wer so vengable in ther furious teene.
The Sichanytes myhte nat susteene
That dai ageyn hem to stonden at diffence,
So importable was ther violence. 1456
For wher that God list punshe a man off riht ie ar
Bi mortal suerd, farweel al resistence: Cod panne).
Whan grace faileth, awey goth force & myht, istance.
Feblith off pryncis the magnyficence, 1460
Chaungeth ther* power into inpotence,
Reuersith the kynges ther statli regalie,
Exaumple in Sichem, for his fals nbaudie.
It was an hard dreedful punycioun, 1464 Te mass hare
That, O Pryncis, trespas in lecherie spipabcinnea eo
Caused afor God that al a regioun yet such things
Destroied was withoute remedie. princes become
This story told[e] for texemplefie, 7 aaaaiaa
Whan noble pryncis to wommen them submitte,
Grace and al fauour anon doth fro them flitte.
Off this stori what sholde I write mor? ae
In Genesis the residue ye may reede, 1472 an wey ye
The deth off Sichem and off kyng Emor, in Genesis.
And how ther kyngdam destroied was in deede.
Off Sichanites, loo, heer the fynal meede,
Off lecherie and off his fals plesaunce, 1476
Which many a rewm hath brouht onto myschaunce!
G What sholde I efft reherse ageyn or write al Stray
The fals auoutn off Paris and Heleyne? abut earend
Ther woful fall Guido dede endite; 1480 and other poets
Poetis echon dede eek ther besi peyne how all the
To declare, how onli bi these tweyne ee
The worthi blood, for short conclusioun, — peediait ca ek
Off Troie and Grece cam to destrucciouz. 1484 their account.
1451. sharp} & sharp H. 55. stonden] stoden R.
1458. al] & R. 1461. the the B — Impotence H, R.
1463. fals] om. R.
1468. no] be H.
1471. stori} mateer R.
1475. Sychamytes H.
1478. ageyne reherce R.
370
When people
will not turn
from their
licentiousness,
they are in-
evitably brough
to confusion, lik
the
who outra
the eee
Bochas on the Immorality of Princes (BK. Ir
But offte it fallith that mekil habundaunce
Off worldli good, with gret ese and richesse,
In folkis that sette al hooli ther plesaunce
To folwe ther lustis off froward wilfulnesse, 1488
Hath caused in londes gret myscheeff & distresse,
Whan vicious liff ther corages dede encoumbre,
Destroied kyngdames & peeplis out off noumbre.
For whan the peeple thoruh fals obstynacie 1493
Is indurat tamende hem and correcte,
And wil nat turne hem from ther lecherie,
mntusion e But ay ar redi ther soules to infecte, —
mecn“* And onto purpos my stile I will directe, 1496
Texemplefie how Gabaa the toun
Was for his syne brouht to confusioun.
Whilom this peeple callid Gabanytes, [p. 163]
From Beniamyn descendid in ther lyne, 1500
Wer ai disposid to folwe ther delites,
And off custum ther wittis dede enclyne
In worldli plente to flouren & to shyne,
And dempte alwai, to them it was most due 1504
Off wilfulnesse ther lustis for to sue.
In lecherie was set al ther plesaunce,
And in that vice thei ladde most ther Iliff,
Wherbi thei wer[e]n brouht onto myschaunce, _ 1508
And many on slayn be ful mortal striff,
Whan the Leuite cam forbi with his wiff,
Ful excellent off fetures and beute,
And took his loggyng withynne that gret cite. 1513
and caused her He was ful old, and she was inli fair,
He inpotent and she but tendre off age,
Thoruh Gabaa makyng ther repair.
The citeseyns off inportune rage, 1516
Shewing the furie off ther gret outrage,
So longe that nyht hir beute dede assaile,
Till liff and breth attonys dede faile.
1485. it]om. H.
1490. corage R.
1498. his] this H —to] om. R.
1507. vice] wyse R.
1514. impotent R, H.
1516. importune R, H.
ea a ei
= i
BK. I11]
Contagious was the sclaundre & diffame, *
In Iudicum the story ye mai reede,
Which to reherse is a maner shame,
To heere thabusiouz off that foule deede;
And how the Leuite amorwe gan take* heede
With pitous cheer, & sauh his yonge wiff
Tofor the gate depryued off hir Iliff.
He hente hir up & leid hir on his asse;
To noise this crym vpon eueri side,
Thouhte in such caas he myhte do no lasse, —
Took a sharp suerd, & list no lenger bide,
On twelue parties he gan hir to deuide,
And to ech Tribe off Jacob he hath sent
A certeyn parti, to seen ther iugement.
Which thyng to hem was hatful & terrible,
And in ther siht ful abhomynable.
And in al haste likhi and possible,
Alle off o will and o corage stable,
On Gabonites for to be vengable
Thei gadred han, shortli to conclude,
Tassaile that toun a ful gret multitude.
Whan thei first mette, atwen hem thus it stood:
The twelue Tribus wer twies put to fliht,
On outher parti gret quantite off blood
Was shad among hem in that mortal fiht;
For sexti thousand, who that counte ariht,
Wer slay[e]n ther, the stori wil nat lie,
Tauenge the sclaundre off fals avoutrie.
Loo, heer the guerdoun off the froward firis
In lecherous folk, that wil nat staunchid be,
That brente so hoote thoruh bestial desiris
In Gabaa the myhti strong cite,
Which was destroied for his iniquite,
And almost brouht off Beniamyn the lyne
Thoruh this offence to eternal ruyne.
1520. was] om. J, P— &] & the B, R, H, J, H 5.
1524. on morwe R — taken B.
1527. hente] sent H—on]vpon H. 1530. abide H.
1531. hirjhirhede R. 1532. to] om. R.
1537. andojofo R. 1540. that] the R.
1542. busy eins H. 1546. ther] om. R.
1553. off ] to H.
Bochas on the Immorality of Princes
371%
wd bora
great slander
and defame on
themselves, as
is told in
Judges.
1520
1524
The Levite
divided her
body into 13
parts and sent
one to each of
the Twelve
Tri
1528
1532
1536
1540
and fought a
battle with
them in which
sixty thousand
men were slain
and their city
destroyed aod
e line of
Benjamin
almost brought
to ruin for ever.
1544
1548
1552
372 An Envoy on the Vices of Princes [BK. 11
Holofernes too, @ Eek for his feruent dronken lecherie
by Jodih for Oloffernes be Iudith loste his hed; 1556
"And al his host and al his cheualne
Leffte the feeld & fledde awei for dreed,
And he lai bathed in his blood al red.
Thus thoruh this vice, yiff it be weel souht
Ful many a prynce hath be brouht to nou
and many ‘These said[e] stories ouhte inouh sufhse,
prince has come
to his end for Yiff men wolde considre & taken heede,
cc The grete vengaunces in many sundri wise
Which God hath take for this synne in dee
As in ther bookis thei may beholde & reed:
Warnynges afforn, ful offte put at preeff,
How thei hemsilff shal saue fro myscheef.
Lenvoye.
Tbiy traeey HIS tragedie yeueth vs a gret warnyr
many princes, Be cleer exaumples of manyfold reso
gt er wit 7
their regions, How many a prince for ther mysleuyng,
have been ° . .
destroyed And many riche, roial, myhti toun,
Qnnloce habits. Many a cite and many a regioun
Ha[ue] been euersid, ful notable & famous,
For synne off pryncis that wer lecherous.
David, who slew" The chose off God, Dauid the worthi kyng, 1576
might powess ~ Prophete off prophetis, most souereyn off renoun,
well punished On Bersabe for a sodeyn lokyng
‘or it, : :
To slen Vrie cauhte occasioun,
For which he suffred gret punycioun, 1580
Chastised off God, he and al his hous,
For cause onli that he was lecherous.
and repented (Gret repentaunce he hadde & gret sorwyng, [p. 164]
sorely, writing
Ims of : 7
pealms of | And made psalmis off gret contricioun, 1584
make amends With woful teris & manyfold wepyng
for his ‘ .
transgression. To make a-seeth for his transgressioun,
Yeuyng to pryncis ful cleer direccioun
For to eschewe* the flatri odious 1588
And the fals fraude off wommen lecherous.
1569. a] om. H.
1573. 2nd a]jom. R.
1588. teschewe B.
BK. 111]
Wher was ther euere off science or cunnyng
So renommed as was kyng Salamoun?
Yit wommen made hym, thoruh{ther] fals flateryng,x soz K
To foreyn goddis doon oblacioun,
Which clipsid his honour & brouht his fame doun,
That was in wisdam whilom most vertuous,
Til he thoruh wommen fll to be lecherous.
. Is it nat eek remembrid be writyng,
Off Israel how the cheeff[e] champioun,
Which goddis peeple hadde in his ledyng,
I meene the famous, myhti, strong Sampsoun,
That thoruh his force to-rente the lyoun, —
But Dalida with teres plenteuous
His grace berafft hym & made hym lecherous.
Sichem was slayn eek for the rauasshyng
Off yong Dyna, as maad is mencioun;
His fader Emor brouh[t] to his eendyng,
Lost his richesse in that discencioun,
And his kyngdam brouht to destruccioun.
Loo, heer the fyn off pryncis vicious,
Which them dispose for to be lecherous!
It is in erthe oon the moste pereilous thyng,
A prynce to been off his condicioun
Effemynat, his wittis enclynyng,
Be fals desirs off flesshli mocioun,
To put hymselff vnder subieccioun,
And thralle his resoun, tresour most precious,
To onleeful* lustis, hatful & lecherous.
This is the sentence ful pleynli in menyng:
Wher women haue the dominacioun
To holde the reyne, ther hookis out castyng,
That sensualite ha{ue] iurediccioun
To entre on resoun bi fals intrusiouz,
Werre ageyn vertu most contagious,
To be venquysshid off lustis lecherous, —
It taketh fro men ther cleernesse off seyng,
Causeth gret siknessis and corrupcioun,
Ard to al vertu it is grettest hyndryng,
1sgo. or] & R. 159%- Renouned H.
1592. therlLom.J,R
1617. onleeful thonleefu
1626. and] of
An Envoy on the Vices of Princes 373
Who was there
more
Toe than
Solomon?
is honour
th darkened
by women.
1596
Samoeon yielded
to the tears of
1600
and Shechem
1604 wae slain for
seducing
1608
It is perilous
os a prince to
effeminate
1612 and to allow
his reason to
become thrall
to unlawful
desires;
1616
for where
women have
domination and
sensuality con-
1620 Quers virtue,
1624
men become
corrupt in body
and grow old
before their
time.
Ae Is Ry : isR. 1605. Off )AsR.
374 The Story of Cambyses [BK. III
Maketh men seeme old, as be inspeccioun, 1628
Appallith ther mynde and disposicioun,
Shorteth ther daies, thyng dreedful & pitous,
Whan thei dispose hem for to be lecherous.
Neraeiz’* Noble Pryncis, in your ymagynyng 1632
deception of Conceyueth off wommen the fals decepcioun,
y Namli off them that loue but for wynnyng,
such as love '
only for gain, And laboure ay for your possessioun,
ho like Sirens, <2 :
sealer your ears Whos sugred flatrie is fals collusioun, 1636
Aaeeweered = Tik to Sirenes with vois melodious
Enoynte your eres to make you lecherous.
[How Cambises assentyng to the moordre of his
brothir Mergus at last slouh himsilf. ]
After Cyrus, his FFTIR the deth of myhti kyng Cirus,
eon and heir
ares oes Next cam his sone callid Cambises, 1640
Bochas, that the Heir be successioun ful victorious,
idolaters and Which tofor Bochas put hymselff in pres
who wes called And gan his compleynt — this is dout[e]les, —
ote aint alate That thei off Egipt, in many vnkouth wise, 1644
by hie brother. To sundri goddis dede sacrifise.
First onto Apis thei dede reuerence,
Callid Serapis, ther grettest god off all,
Regnyng in Egipt off most excellence, | 1648
And god of goddis foolis dede hym call.
And off his noblesse thus it is befall,
Slayn bi his brother, which is a gret wonder,
Seuered on pecis & ful ferr cast assonder. 1652
dict hdd foie And thei off Egipt made ther ordynaunces,
Care Vp peyne off deth in ther statutis olde,
resolved to A god to calle hym, & doon ther obseruaunces
all their temples; Withynne his templis, lik as thei wer holde. 1656
Wheroff Cambises, toforn as I you tolde,
Alle the templis off that regioun
Cast hym be force for to throwe doun.
1629. and] and ther R.
1647. ther] the R.
1659. throwe] throw hem H.
1 MS. J. leaf 68 recto.
BK. 111} The Death of Cambyses
The temple off Iubiter to robbe it be rauyne,
Callid Amon, withoute excepcioun,
His knyhtis sente to brynge it to ruyne.
But thei echon for ther presumpcioun,
With sodeyn leuene wer smet & bete doun.
Wheroff Cambises, in Asie tho regnyng,
Hadde this drem as he lai slepyng.
He drempte his brother, that called was
375
and when he
1660 sent his knights
to rob Jupiter
Ammon, they
were suddenly
struck by
a thunde bolt:
1664
Mergus, [p.165] one Fy
Sholde in the kyngdam afftir hym succeede.
Wheroff in herte he wex so envious,
That he purposed, off rancour and hatreede,
Bi sum mene to make his sides bleede;
And that his purpos sholde take auail,
A magicien he took to his counsail.
And he was holde a ful gret philisophre,
Callid Cometes, ful sleihti and cunnyng,
To whom Cambises made a large proffre
Off gold and tresour to make hym assentyng
To execute this horrible thyng;
And that he wolde in most cruel wise
The moordre off Mergus compassen & deuise.
And whil Cambises ordeyned this tresoun,
To slen Mergus, his owne brother deere,
God from aboue caste his eien doun,
Hym to pun[y]she in ful cruel manere:
For he wex wood[e], who-so list to lere,
Cauht a sharp suerd, & roff his thih on tweyne;
And sodenli he deied for the peyne.
For too causes God took on hym vengaunce,
As myn auctour Bochas doth expresse:
For his presumptuous fals disobeisaunce,
Spoilyng the goddis off her gret richesse,
And for the froward gret onkynd[e]nesse
To yeue assent to the contagious caas,
Whan that Mergus his brother moordred was.
1662. it] om.
1675. hie pP— and] of H.
1686. thih] teth H.
his brother
1668 Smerdis and
consequent
resolved to tin
im.
1672
He took counsel
of a magician
called Gometes
and offered him
1676 E's treasure
or Smerdis’
1680
But God, who
saw what was
going on
punished
Cambyees with
eath,
1684
1688 for abe reasons:
presumptuously
despoiled
the gods of their
great wealth,
and because of
his unkindness
1692 to his brother
Smerdis.
376 Oropastes crowned King of Persia (BK. 111
War followed, The deth off whom was cheeff occasioun
disconsolate Off ful gret werre, stryues and debat, 1696
without an heir : .
to the throne, Eek fynal cause whi al the regioun
Gometes substi- Off myhti Perse stood disconsolat:
Onscntee * For heir was non, off hih nor low estat,
(Smerdis the |. Be title off riht, thoruh this onhappi chaunce, 1700
murdered To been ther kyng and ha[ue] the gouernaunce.
For the magicien callid Cometes,
Which slouh Mergus, as ye haue herd expresse,
Took his brother callid Oropastes, 1704
And made hym kyng, the stori berth witnesse,
Because that he resembled in liknesse
Onto Mergus off face and off stature,
To crowne hym kyng therfore he dede his cure. 1708
Lote oe HE deth off Mergus outward was nat knowe
vl al Nor pleynli publisht in that regioun;
His bodi buried and cast in erthe lowe.
Off whom the moordre and fraudulent tresoun, 1713
The pitous slauhtre wrouht be collusioun,
And al the maner, bi processe was espied
So openli it myhte nat be denyed.
but later on @ And in what wise the noise gan out spreede 1716
Otanes sought “Touchyng this moordre odious for to heere:
circumstances Whan that Orapastes ocupied in deede
the case, °
The crowne off Perse, the stori doth vs lere,
Ther was a prynce ful notable & enteere, 1720
Callid Hostanes, that gan his witt applie,
Off hih prudence this mo6rdre out tespie.
believing that Whil that Orapastes, vnder a fals pretence,
Oropastes had a
no just right to OfF Perciens was resseyued as for kyng, 1724
the crown: ‘The said[e] prynce dede his deligence,
Bi inquisicioun to ha{ue] knowlechyng,
Be what engyn or be what sleihti thyng
The said Orapastes cauhte occasioun 1728
In stede off Mergus to ocupie the croun.
1696. striffe R. 1697. whi] whi that R.
1698. disconsolat] consolate R. 1700. this] his R.
1701. kyng] heir R. 1702. Comares P.
1711. erthe]therth H. 1717. for] om. H.
1718. Oropastes y R3,P. 1721. Otanes P.
1723. Oropastes J. U7 receyued was H.
1726. to haue] ta full 1728. Oropastes J.
BK, 111] Otanes and Oropastes
On this mateer he hadde a coniecture,
That his title was nouther hool nor cleer.
The trouthe to trie he dede his besi cure,
And to serche out hool: the maneer,
He souht[e] so ferr that he cam riht neer,
And in this caas lettid for no slouthe,
Till that he hadde founden out the trouthe.
The cas was this, pleynli to termyne:
He hadde a douhter, ful fair off hir visage,
Which off the kyng was cheuest concubyne,
Bi whom he thouhte to cachchen auauntage.
And onto hir he hath sent his massage,
Secreli tenqueren how it stood,
Wher that the kyng wer come off Cirus blood.
And bad she sholde secreli taken heed,
Whil that he slepte to doon hir besi peyne
With hir handis for to feele his hed,
And to grope afftir bothe his eris tweyne.
And yiff it fill — ther is no mor to seyne —
Vpon his hed that she non eris founde,
To telle hir fadir, off trouthe as she was bounde.
377
1732
1736
Finally he
rarer the
king’s chief
1740 concubine.
He bade her
1744 secretly feel the
king’s head
while he slept
and see whether
he had ears or
not;
1748
This myhti prynce Hostanes knew[e] weel, [p. 166] for Otanes
Riht as it is recorded be scripture,
Touchyng this caas how it stood euerideel,
How kyng Cambises off sodeyn auenture,
Bi his lyue for a forfeture,
Made off Orapastes, the stori seith nat nay,
Bothe his tweyne eris to be kit away.
And heerupon to be certefied,
He was desirous ta[ue] ful knowlechyng.
Which be his douhter whan it was espied,
Vpon a nyht liggyng bi the kyng,
Gropyng his hed[e] as he 1ai slepyng,
Ful subtili felte and took good heed,
How he non eris hadde vpon his hed.
And to hir fadir anon she hath declarid
The secrenesse off this auenture.
And for no feer nor dreed he hath nat sparid,
Oropastes had
1752 forfeited his ears
as a punishment
during Cam-
byses’ reign.
1756
It turned out
that the king
had no ears.
1760
1764
So Otanes called
the princes of
Persia to a
council,
1731. nor}neH. 1733. serche]seche R. 1738. hirjom. R.
1759. taful B. 1766. this] his R.
378 Otanes rids Persia of Oropastes [BK. Tr
How that it stood[e] pleynli to discure. 1768
And first off all he dede his besi cure,
Alle the pryncis off Perse-lond ifeere
To counseil calle tentrete off this mateere.
at which he told And whan thei wern assemblid euerichon, 1772
murder of == Off Orapastes he told hem al the chaunce,
And how that Mergus was moordred yore agon,
As heer-toforn is put in remembraunce.
Wherupon to sette an ordynaunce 1776
And to redresse these wronges doon toforn,
Off Perse-lond wer seuene pryncis sworn.
Seven princes Off oon assent in ther entencioun,
derirone Bi bond off oth thei made ther assuraunce, 1780
And a ful secre coniuracioun
To putte Orapastes from his roial puissaunce,
Which hadde al Perse vnder his gouernaunce
Bi a ful fals pretens off heritage, 1784
For he was lik to Mergus off visage.
They took their These seuene pryncis, off which toforn I tolde,
them, and, Alle off oon herte, & bi ther oth ibounde,
way ne Oe, Prudent and manli and off yeris olde, 1788
the king, but Han souht a tyme Orapastes to confounde.
held off by his And with ther suerdis sharp[e] whet & grounde,
brother wre em. Wonder couert in ther apparaile,
Cam off entent Orapastes to assaile. 1792
And in the paleis whom-euer that thei mette
Or ageyn hem made resistence,
Alle off accord thei fersli on hym sette.
But the magicien, that was ther in presence, 1796
Cam ageyn hem be sturdi violence,
And at thencountre gan hem so constreyne,
That off the pryncis thei haue islay[e]n tweyne.
[Oropastes occupyeng the crowne of Perce bi iniust
title was moordred. | !
At last they But fynali the tother pryncis fyue, 1800
Pea an
illed Oropastes Whan that thei sauh ther tweyne feeris bleede,
and all who were
in the palace. In al the paleis thei leffte non alyue.
1772. assemblid] assembled to gedre R. _1777. to]om.H.
ctl oy secre|setteR. 1786. These] The if
1790. sharp whet swerdis & grounde R—I grownde H.
1791. Wonder] Vndir H. 1792. for tassaile H.
1793. the] that H. 1798. thencountre] thentre H.
1 MS. J. inner margin 68 verso.
BK. III] How Darius became King of Persia 379
And kyng Orapastes, quakyng in his dreede,
Ful onwarli, or that he took heede, 1804
Was slay[e]n ther, guerdoned for al his myht, —
Off pretens kynges which regne & ha[ue] no riht.
[How Dary obteynyng the kyngdam of perce be
sleiht eended with shame. | !
FFTIR the deth of this magiciens pr iaiesecal a
Was lefft no kyng to ha[ue] the gouernaunce, 1808 nag fh
Nor for to reule the lond off Perciens, Persia save five
Sauff pryncis fyue, ful famous off puissaunce, a
Which made a statut and an ordynaunce
Off oon accord, be record off writyng, 1812
Theron concludyng who sholde be chose kyng.
Ther sort, ther happe and al ther auenture wo eee
Was youe to Fortune off this eleccioun, of themeelves,
As thus: that prynce the crowne shal recure _1816
Among these fyue, be ther convencioun
For to gouerne the myhti regioun
And in that lond to regne & contune,
Lik as the fauour list ordeyne off Fortune. 1820
This was the statut: vpon a morwenyng, inthe ene:
Alle attonys erli for to ride gen in te
Atwen Aurora and Phebus vprisyng, hillside. and to
Vp to an hill to houe[n] and abide, 1854. whose hore
Al rancour & discord set a-side, a
Whos hors among hem was first herd neieng,
Withoute gruchchyng sholde be crownyd kyng.
Vpon this mateer what sholde I lenger tarie? — 1828 Oncof the |
Heeron was maad an oth in sekirnesse. mame mee
Among these pryncis ther was on callid Darie, servant who
A prynce off Perse excellyng off noblesse, would’ hel is
master win.
Which hadde a seruaunt, the stori berth witnesse, 1832
That kept his hors, & thouhte in verrai deede
He wolde his lord preferre at such a neede.
1810. fyue princis R.
1812. And H. 1814. happis H. 1816. As] And R.
Bde momyng H. 1824. houen] hove H, P — abide] ta-
ide H.
1825. discorde & rancour H. 1834. a] om. R.
1 MS. J. leaf 68 verso.
380 How Darius became King of Persia [BK. 111
So on the day
before the con- Lhe said seruant, ful sleihti in werkyng, [p. 167]
mastershore dis deligence list nothyng to spare.
come together “The dai toforn[e] set off ther meetyng,
with a mare on
the samehill- At a place smothe, pleyn and bare,
side, and wh ‘ ‘ :
they rode there His lordis hors he made lepe a mare.
nature caused And on the morwe whan the pryncis mette
beat loudly: On hors[e]bak, there his lord he sette.
And whan the hors thedir cam ageyn,
Nature anon afforced his corage
To neie loude vpon the same pleyn,
Wher-as the mare had vsid hir passage.
Kynde in such caas hadde gret auauntage.
Be which[e] sleihte, pleynli to reherse,
The said[e] Dary was crownyd kyng off Perse.
Th . e e &
poate es The pryncis alle, lik ther convencioun,
tradiction, and, Or Phebus shewed his firi bemys briht,
dismounting iS ee
from their Withoute striff or contradiccioun
rsea, said to é :
Darius “Long From ther hors sodenli aliht;
ive the King’ And onto Dari, as lowli as thei myht,
Saide in Greek[e] or thei vp aros,
**Policronitudo Basileos!’
Which is in Latyn, to speke in wordes pleyn,
And in Inglissh, bexpownyng off scripture,
Afftir the Greek, as moche for to seyn
As, “‘long{e] tyme mote the kyng endure,” —
And lyue in helthe with good auenture,
Bi the grace and fauour off Fortune
Vpon al Perse to regnen and contune.
it at remarkable Who list considren eueri circumstaunce,
ion by suche Lt is a merueil nat groundid on prudence,
Bi aneibat phe Bi such a sleihte a kyng tagouernaunce,
noonecan " Thoruh title or cleym as off iust euidence,
me mae So to be reised to kyngli excellence.
But whan Fortune fauoureth such assay,
Till that she chaunge, ther can no man sei nay.
1835. sleihti] sleuhty R. 1836. nothyng] nat R.
ig37. by forn H. 1841. lord horse He
1850. his} hir H — fire R.
1855. Polycromitudo P.
1856. in] om. R
1866. or] of R.
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
BK. It} The Story of Coriolanus
Thus was kyng Darie, born off louh lynage,
Set up be sleihte in estaat honurable.
Thouhte that he wolde for his auauntage,
To make his kyngdam & his regne stable,
Wedde such a wiff as to hym was most hable,
Demyng off trouthe his cleym wer weel amendid,
Off Cirus lyne yiff she were descendid. 1876
To wedde suchon was al his couetise,
Stable for to regne vpon the Persiens.
And, as I fynde, in ful cruel wise,
Bi the counseil off fals magiciens
A werre he gan vpon the Egipciens.
Eek folili he gan for to werreie
Them off Athenys, which list hym nat obeie.
1872
1880
And, as myn auctour maketh rehersaile,
He for his pride and fals presumpcioun
Was disconfited twies in bataile,
And neuer afftir, as maad is mencioun,
He was nat had in reputacioun,
Mong Persiens so gan his honour fade.
With sleihte he gan; with shame an eende he made.
1884
1888
[How Corolian bi Romayns exilid gan werre ayenst
hem and how aftir thei sent out his moder with
othir for pees, which had, thei eft him exilid &
aftir was slayn. | !
FFTIR this Darie, as I reherse can,
And myn auctour likith to conclude,
To Iohn Bochas cam Corolian,
The moste woful off al that multitude.
Which gan compleyne vpon thyngratitude
Off the Romeyns, how thei whilom in deede
Exilid his persone, off rancour & hatreede.
1892 ©
1896
Which in his tyme wolde neuer cese,
Thoruh his noblesse and his hih renoun,
Ther comoun profit tawmente and encrese,
And for to brynge to ther subieccioun
Many a cite and many a noble touz.
1876. she] he R.
1893. Coriolan P. yoo al] om. H.
1902. 2nd a] om.
' MS. J. leaf 69 recto.
381
As Darius was
oe of hi 7
inea
maeda
caepeor of
yrus
screnethea his
position,
and foolishly
made waron the
ians and
the Greeks.
He was beaten
twice in battle
and never
afterwards held
in respect by
the Persians.
He began with
deception and
ended with
shame.
After Darius,
Coriolanus
appeared, com-
plaining how
the Romans had
exiled him,
although he had
never ceased to;
labour for the
common profit.
382 The Story of Coriolanus [BK. II
Yit thei ageynward, for al his cheualrie,
Han hym exilid off malice and envie.
1904
When he sew But whan this Marcus, callid Corolian,
Romans were, Sauh off Romeyns the gret onkynd[e]nesse,
Tonses 38 Toward a cuntre that callid was Tuskan
to begin a war Off hih disdeyn anon he gan hym dresse, 1908
oh han "And hem entretid, off manli fell prowesse
To gynne a werre, sithe thei so manli be,
Thoruh his conveieng geyn Rome the cite.
He told them = And for to put hem mor in assuraunce, 1912
were tora by | To ha[ue] victorie thoruh ther hih renoum,
acti yous He tolde hem pleynli off a gret distaunce,
Off a fals striff and a discencioun
That was off newe falle in Rome toun; 1916
Wherfor thei shulde, yiff it be prouided,
Conquere hem lihtli, because thei were deuided.
He atemoed « Bi ther assent he made a gret arme, [p. 168]
army, and when With stuff for werre richeli apparailed, 1920
the city the “Pihte his tentis tofor that strong cite,
overcome with And in the feeld stood proudli [en]batailed.
always the | But the hertis off Romeyns han hem failed,
gate when * And durst nat passe the gatis off ther toun, 1924
divided: Ther was among hem so gret deuysioun.
Ther cite stood that tyme destitut,
With feer supprised for lak off gouernaunce.
Them to diffende thei fond[e] no refut, 1928
So ferr enfeeblisshid was ther old puissaunce.
For euer gladli, wher striff & variaunce
In any kyngdam haue an interesse,
Touchyng diffence,* a-dieu al hardynesse! 1932
There can be | Withynze hemsilff[e] thei stood at debat;
where there i» Afforn ther enmyes redi for tassaile;
Confort was non in hih nor low estat:
For wher discord 1s, what counsail mai auaile? 1936
Ther foon withoute, withynne hemsilff bataile,
Brouht in, alas, to ther confusioun,
Bi the fals serpent off discencioun.
1906. Sauh] Sauff R.
1909. fell] hih R, hygh H s.
1921. afforne H “strong ere R. 1922. batailed J.
1932. diffence] a diffence B, R, J
1935. louh nor hih H
—
BK. II1 | Cortolanus and Volumnia
But at the laste afforced and constreyned,
Thei were coact(e] afftir pes to seeke.
The caas stood so: off nede thei wer peyned,
Maugre ther myht, ther hertis for to meeke.
And ther myscheeff mor tencrece and eeke,
In awmentyng off ther cruel fatis,
383
So there was
1940 nothing to be
done but sue for
peace.
1944
Thei sauh ther enmyes briht armed at ther gatis.
Thei sent out first preestis off the toun
With ther enmyes for tentrete off pes,
With humble proffres & low subieccioun;
But Corolian, this is doutfel]les,
Ageyn the Romeyns was so merciles,
That grace non myht in his herte myne
To ther request his eris to enclyne.
Thanne the Romeyns, the stori telle can,
To Venturia made ther praier,
Which was the mooder off Corolian,
And to Volumia, his feithful wiff enteer,
That thei sholde bothe gon ifeer
Onto that prynce, besechyng at the leste,
Benygneli to heryn ther requeste.
His mooder first ful prudentli abraide,
Onto hir sone makyng this questiouz,
At ther meetyng to hym thus she saide:
“Shal I,” quod she, “for short conclusioun,
Off feithful herte and trewe affeccioun
To thi presence declare fynali,
Be now receyued as mooder or enmy?
Afftir thyn answere I mut myselff dispose
And my wittis speciali applie,
Cause off my komyng cleerli to onclose,
And telle theffect of myn ambassiatrie,
And my speche so gouerne and guie,
Afftir I am receyued to thi grace,
Mi-silff declaryng, yiff I ha[ue] tyme and space.
For lik thi mooder yiff thou receyue me
And me accepte onto thi presence,
I mut therafftir so gouerned be
To telle my tale pleynli, in sentence,—
So that thou yiff me freendli audience.
And yiff I be nat receyued in such wise,
Mor straung[e]li my tale I mut deuise.”
1980. be nat] om. R.
The Romans
first sent fee
out priests, bu
1948 Coriolanus
refused to listen
to them.
1952
Then his
mother, and
Volumnia, his
wiles went ae
im and begg
1956 him to hear
their request.
1960
Said his mother,
“Am I to be
received as
mother or
enemy?
1964
“My action
1968 must depend
upon your
answer.
1972
“If you receive
an . a mother,
will give you
1976 the message of
the Romans in
simple words,
otherwise I must
tell my tale more
circumspectly.
1980
384 Coriolanus and Volumnia [Bx. m1
Coriclanus = This noble prynce, this Corolian,
mother and Whan that he herde his mooder thus compleyne,
[receive you ss Ful lik a lord and a knyhtli man 1984
my dear mother,
but I intend Gan hir enbracen in his armis tweyne
nevertheless to ° °
chastise the 1n lowli wise, ther is no mor to seyne, —
Romane for th
Romane (ori Sauff lik a sone, off due and off riht,
To hire he saide ful hk a ientil knyht: 1988
“Madame,” quod he, “‘be it to your plesaunce
To heere my conceit as in this mater.
With feithful herte and humble attendaunce
I you receyue as for my mooder deer; 1992
But, & ye like benygneli to heer,
Thyngratitude, doon in most cruel wise
To me off Romayns, I purpose to chastise.”
“Ah son,” said “A sone,” quod she, ‘“‘touchyng ther offence 1996
she, “ their
offence can be Doon to thi noblesse and ther gret outrage,
atoned for: you
are of their Thei shal be menys ther trespas recompence.
mercy modify And thynk(e] thou art born off ther lynage,
your rigour. And suffre that merci thi rigour mai asswage, 2000
And thynk off nature thou maist nat weel withseie
Thyng for the which thi mooder doth now preie.
, Do not besia Thou shalt nat close thyn entrailes off pite [p. 169]
your country ‘To the requestis off me and off thi wiff, 2004
your own line Nor gynne a werre ageyn{e]s thi cuntre,
To stroie thi lyne bi newe mortal striff,
Thi childre and me to make vs lose our liff.
Weie in ballaunce to Romayns thyn hatreede _— 2008
Ageyns the loue off me and* thi kenreede.
“Send your, Send hom ageyn thi straunge soudiours,
strange soldiers
away, who = Which be so redi the Romayn blood to sheede;
are so ready to
shed Reman, Lat stonde in pes our wallis and our tours; 2012
wi
be hostage. Ouffre thi grace thi rancour to exceede,
So that thi pite mai putte awai al dreede,
And condescende to receyue for hostage
Me to be plegge for ther gret outrage. 2016
Do nar forest Behold* the wombe in which that thou wer born,
at my breast And see also my naked brestes* tweyne,
when you were
an infant, Bi which thou were fostred heer-toforn:
1982. oe P;
1989. to] om. Rae yow H, R3, youH s.
2002. T yng} Thynk R
2008. inJinaH. 2 009. and] and off B, H, R, J.
2017. Beheld B. 2018. brestes] sides B, R.
BK. III] Cortolanus and Volumnia
Yuff ther was lak, thou woldest crie & pleyne.
Remembre theron, and at me nat disdeyne,
But onto merci receyue this cite
At the request heer off thi wiff & me.
Whilom my mylk thi cherisshyng was &* foode 2024
To stynte thi cri whan thou dedist weepe,
Ther soote dropis ful holsum wer & goode,
Thi tendre youthe for to preserue and keepe.
And lik a mooder to brynge the a-sleepe,
I wook ful offte, to the I was so kynde, —
385
2020
and how often I
woke to make
you sleep.
“Have mind on
my request.
2028
Wherfor, deere sone, on my request ha[ue] mynde.
Yiff that thou list this cite now tormente,
Ther demerites be rigour recompense,
Pun[y]she me for them, and I will assente
To ber the gilt off ther gret offence.
But, deere soone, lat thi magnyficence
Suffre off knyhthod that merci mai in deede
Attempre thi mht, or thou to doom proceede.
Suffre Romayns to lyuen in quiete,
Graunt hem pes ageyn ther gret outrage,
Sum drope off pite lat in thyn herte fleete,
And thynk[{e] thou art born off ther lynage.
Looke vpon hem with merciful visage,
Which offre hemsilff[e], as thei shal fulfille,
Ther liff, ther deth, al hooli at thi wille.
Remembre off nature how that the leoun
Set a-side his rage and his woodnesse
To them that meekli aforn hym falle doun;
His roial kynde will doon hem no duresse.
Texemplefie to thi knyhtli noblesse,
With rigerous suerd thou shalt no mor manace
Them that be lowli, yolde onto thi grace.”
And whan this prynce, this Corolian,
Had herd al that his mooder list to seyne,
He goth to hire in al the haste he can,
Bespreynt with teris that on his chekis reyne,
And hire enbracid in his armis tweyne,
2021. at] lat R.
2024. & | & chi B, H, R.
2036. merci] om. R.
“If you must
repay the faults
of this city
2032 with severity
punish me, w
am willing to
bear the guilt.
2036
“Grant peace to
the Romans,
have pity on
your kindred
2040 who offer to
submit to you.
2044
“Remember
how the lion
refuses to harm
those who fall
down meck!
ore him.”
2048
Coriolanus
2052 embraced his
mother weeping
and at once
granted her
request.
2056
386 The End of Cortolanus. Miultiades [BK. 11
And saide, “mooder, ther mai be no lettyng,
Me off hool* herte to graunte your axyng.”
ie aire’ ne. The siege he made for tauoide awai,
Tuscans home | And to repaire hom to ther cuntre; 2060
back into Rome And with his mooder & wiff he was that dai
with joy. ‘ °
With gret[e] gladnesse and solempnite
Anon receyued into that cite,
Lik as Fortune wolde hym neuer haue failed.* 2064
But she soone afftir off newe hath hym assailed.
But afterwards The geri Romayns, stormy and onstable,
Cc
Romans |. Which neuer in oon stille koude abide,
anished him
again, and he ~Ageyn this prynce, most knyhtli and notable, —_ 2068
was then slain ‘ é
by the disap- For to conspire off newe thei gan prouyde,
pointed Tuscant- And ban[y]shed hym to Tuskan ther beside,
Wher he was slayn withynne a litil space,
For he the Romayns took affor* to grace. 2072
[How Melciades duk of Athenys with smal noumbre
venquysshed vj° M! perciens, and aftir bi his
comonte that ay of custum desireth a chaunge
of princes newe he was cheyned in prisoun and
so deied. | '
ore en caces Ao other that put hemsilff in pres
For to bewaile ther greuous heuynesse,
Cam off Athenys duc Meltiades,*
Which thoruh his manhod & famous hih prowesse, 2076
And thoruh his knyhtli renommed noblesse,
Lich as auctours his tryumphes list comende,
Fauht many a bataile his cite to diffende.
fought many And off [his] victories,* as it is compiled, 2080
fence of his city, For comoun profit off that noble toun,
Fauht with a tirant that was toforn exiled,
Callid Hippias, which be fals tresoun
2058. off hool] hool off B, J, R.
2064. haue failed] assailed B. 2070. banyssh H — to] in H.
2072. took affor] affor took B, H, R, J.
2075. Melciades in B and other MSS., the common blunder of
the copyists, c for t and vice versa.
2076. famous] om. R. 2077. renouned H.
2080. his] om. R—victoires B. 2082. afforne H, aforn R.
1 MS. J. leaf 69 recto.
BK. Il | Miltiades defeats the Persians 387
Hadde to kyng Darie maad a suggestioun, 2084
Vpon Athenys, in al the haste he myhte,
To reise al Perse ageyn that toun to fihte.
Sexe hundred thousand acountid was the noum- —s_ 42d with ten
bre [p.170] detested
Off Persiens, armed in plate and maile, 2088 exiled tyrant
Them off Athenys be force to encoumbre, army of sixty
Echon assemblid them proudli to assaile. Po caee
But this duc for nothyng wolde faile,
Meltiades, but knyhtli took his place: 2092
With ten thousand he met hem in the face.
For bothe he was riht manli and riht wis, eee ate
And off his handis proued a good knyht. four times,
Set vpon them with so prudent auys, 2096
That thei off Perce, for al ther grete myht,
Wer foure tymes put onto the flyht
Bi thilke duc, yiff I shal nat feyne,
And bi the noblesse off other knyhtis tweyne. = 2100
Themystodes icallid was the ton, aA A
Which off his hand, as auctours list descryue, Saree
Was in a feeld[e] prouyd on his fon Cynaegeirus,
The manlifest] knyht in his tyme alyue. giogthem.
Which thilke dai so proudli dede stryue
Geyn them off Perse, & such a slauhter make,
That fynali the feeld thei ha[ue] forsake.
Cynegirus, a knyht eek off ther touz, 2108
The same dai thoruh his cheualrie,
With bloodi suerd, as he wente vp & doun,
Withoute noumbre in his malencolie,
Slouh Persiens, [as] bookis specefie, 2112
That for the tyme thei no refut cunne,
Sauff to ther shippis for dreed off deth thei rumne.
2091. faile] falle H. 2092. but]om. R. 2093. he] om. H.
2094. For] om. R.
2095. knyht stuck in seribe’s pen R.
2096. Set] Sep R.
2101. Themistocles P, as no doubt Lydgate wrote. The copyists
bave perpetuated an early blunder of d for cl.
2102. handis H — auctours] bookes H.
2103. on] of H.
2104. manliest] manli J, R.
. Ageyn H.
2112. alee: B, H, J, R, H 5, P.
388 The Exploits of Cynaegeirus [BK. III
far tie ages And ther he wrouhte a straunge gret mervail,
Pesan ship, As writ Bochas, affermyng in certeyne, 2116
hand, The* grettest shipp that bar [the] largest sail,
With his mht hand he gan it so restreyne,
Lik as it hadde be fastned with a cheyne,
Maugre Perciens, which dede hem sore greue, 2120
That be no crafft thei koud nat make it meue.
and when the ~But whan that thei non other refut wiste,
off his right | Freli tescape(n] out off his daungeer,
hip wi bit * Till thei his riht hand heuh off bi the wriste. 2124
But with his lefft hand he gan approche neer,
And heeld it stille, an vnkouth thyng to heer,
That he hadde force so gret a shipp to lette.
But than, alas, his lefft hand off thei smette! 2128
cat of nag Vit maugre them, whan he ther malice seeth,
with hi teeth, ‘The shipp he heeld stille with his teeth,
=e That thei ne myhte departe fro the land, 2132
fee Lik as ther vessel hadde falle vpon a sand, —
Causere that day, myn auctour doth eohenee:
Too hundred thousand wer slayn off them off Perse.
Gaecscras |, And whan this synguler myhti champioun, 2136
and Bochas = Cynegirus, most vnkouth off corage,
abouthim. | Had doon this meruail, as maad 1s mencioun,
Off verrai angwissh he fill into a rage:
Lik a beeste furious and sauage 2140
Ran a-boute, alas, for lak off mynde! —
In Bochas book no mor off hym I fynde.
gabects csi But in this processe afftir I beheeld
spired against’ Av how that Fortune can hir freendis faile: 2144
hia in spite of
his victory For Meltiades, ledere off that feeld
And gouernour off al that gret bataile,
Causyng victoire, as maad is rehersaile, —
Yit his peeple off malice and off ire 2148
Ageyn his noblesse falsli gan conspire.
and put him in “Thej off Athenys set hym in prisoun,
And in cheynys myhtili hym bounde,
Onkynd[e]li thei gaff hym this guerdoun, 2152
2117. 1st The] Ther B, H Leta 2nd the] om. R, J, P.
2119. as] om. 2128. a], the R
2132. parte frome H. 2133. a] om.
BK. 11] An Envoy on the Fickleness of the People 389
For al the knyhthod [that] the: in hym founde.
Yit had he suffred many mortal wounde
In ther diffence and for ther libertees,
To saue ther lyues, ther toun & ther cuntrees. 2156
This was the eende off duc Meltiades, me was tus
Thoruh the constreynt off his stronge bondis. ° Leerian
Eek thei exilid the knyht Themystodes Such is the
hange of
Out off ther toun to lyue in straunge londis, 2160 Fortune!
That was so worth preued off his hondis:
To shewe the chaung and mutabilite
Founde in Fortune and eueri comounrte!
[Lenvoye. |
HE stormy trust off eueri comounte, 2164 see how litte
Ther geri corages & troublid constaunce, trust there is in
° . ° e people.
In this tragedie men mai beholde & see, They are
‘ forever wanting
Now vp, now douz, as Fortune cast hir chaunce. a change of
For thei off custum ha[ue] ioie & most plesaunce,2168 °°"
In ther desirs onstedfast and ontrewe,
To seen ech day a chaung off pryncis newe.
Corolian off Rome, a cheeff cite, [ps 71] Coneenus, the
Was ther protectour thoruh his myhti puissaunce: 2172 Rome. was
° . » ‘ twice ‘banished;
Venquisshid ther enmies, set hem in surte,
Brouht in rebellis to ther obeisaunce.
But thei ageynward, off wilful variaunce
Ban[y]shed hym twies, & no cause knewe, 2176
Sauff for to seen a chaung off pryncis newe.
The knyhtli noblesse, the magnanymyte, cayea cas,
The policie, the prudent gouernaunce was set aside for
° another;
Off Meltiades, duc off the cuntre, 2180
Wher that Athenys 1s cheeff toum in substaunce, —
Whan he ther comoun gan most to auaunce,
The mor onkyndli, in honour that thei grewe,
Most thei wer besi to chaunge hym for a newe. 2184
2153. pao J, R, H, P, Hs
2165. Ther] the H — &] & he H. 2166. this] his R.
2171. Coriolan P.
2178. The ie oe words of 6tb stanza preceding are written
above this line
2180. the]that R. 2182. most] om. R.
2183. The] Ther R
390 Xerxes, King of Persia [ BK. III
ona Themystodes, hauyng the souereynte
knight of Eis Off knyhtis alle that bar spere or launce,
time, was é 7
Duryng his tyme, — I tak no mor on me,
For comparisouns doon offte gret greuaunce, — 2188
Sexe hundred thousand he putte to vttraunce,
Onto Athenys neuer founde ontrewe;
Yit thei conspired his exil for a newe.
Nothing is © What thyng mai heer floure in felicite, 2192
especially the Or stonde stable be long contynuaunce
kings. In hih estatis outher in low degre? —
Now flowe, now ebbe, now ioie, now myschaunce,
Afftir Fortune holdeth the ballaunce. 2196
And speciali, fals, feynyng and ontrewe,
Comouns desir a chaung off pryncis newe.
Noble Frisces, Noble Pryncis, in your prosperite,
pce ay On sodeyn chaungis set your remembraunce, 2200
Fresshnesse off floures, off braunchis the beute
Haue ai on chauzg a tremblyng attendaunce,
In trust off comoums is no perseueraunce:
As wynter [&] somer be dyuers off ther hewe, — 2204
So be thei dyuers in chaung off pryncis newe.
[Ho[w] xerses kyng of Perce, for his ravyne and
couetise was dismembrid in smale pecys. | '
ate | Pee OR* Bochas, ful pitousli wepyng,
ae For to declare his dedli heuynesse,
piteouly. Cam Xerses next, that was of Perse kyng, 2208
And gan compleyne his dool and his distresse.
Which in thre thynges, his stori berth witnesse,
And as the cronycle cleerli can vs telle,
All othir pryncis in erthe he dede excelle: 2212
ofsuch heb” In hih estat was non so gret as he,
or of to great” Nouther in richesse nor worldli habundaunce,
gnity Nor non that tyme off so gret dignite;
For as it is iput in remembraunce, 2216
He hadde al Perse vnder his obeisaunce,
Nor neuer prynce, as auctours do conclude,
Hosteied attonys with such a multitude.
2186. or]}&H. 2180. vee 1
2202. Haue ai] haeyne H. a ae
2203 ts repeated after 2200 H. — 2204. &] om. H.
2206. Un-tofor] And tofor B, R, J. P.
1 MS. J. leaf 70 verso.
BK. 111 | The Pride of Xerxes 391
Space off fyue yeer he made his ordenaunce, —2220 Hit emmy,
Seuene hundred thousand peeple he dede reise; Tone: He
Dempte off fals pride ageyn his gret puissaunce earthly power
Se Id resist him.
Non ertheli power myhte countirpeise. cae
But summe auctours alowe hym nat nor preise, 2224
Because that he, peeplis to encoumbre,
Set al his trust to conquere with gret noumbre.
But manli pryncis han this opynyoun: pineakioe
In multitude stondeth nat victorie; 2228 that victory
‘ ; Fi oes not depend
For knyhtli prowesse off eueri champiouz, on numbers.
Which manli cast hem in armys to ha[ue] glorie,
Enprentid hath fix in his memorie,
Marcial tryumphes God ne doth nat shewe 2232
In noumbres grete no rather than in fewe.
This said{e] Xerses, be record off auctours, igs o
Had also, 1n cronycles as I reede, ae
Thre hundred thousand straunge soudiours, 2236 His armies
Withoutyn othir, that wern off Perse & Mede. ae
Which gan the erthe for to cure and sprede, soigaing
Dried ryuers wher thei dede atteyne,
Karff douz hillis and made valis pleyne. 2240
This was cheeff conceit off his fantasies, pe ae
To haue al erthe vnder subieccioun; Boni eubiect
Thouhte his power rauhte aboue the skies, even believed
Off surquedie and fals presumpcioun: 2244 rob God of the
For as he dempte in his opynyoun the Lord wall”
Pp pynyoun, the Lord will
How in his poweer pleynli that it lai, cote toitcn
Fro God aboue the heuene to take awai. long.
But thilke Lord that can the meeke enhaunse, 2248
And from ther sees the proude putte douz,
A{(nd] namli them that ha[ue] no remembraunse
To aduertise off wisdam and resoun,
To knowe the Lord, most myhti off renoun, — 2252
The Lord off Lordis, which, pleynli to compile,
Will suffre tirantis to regne but a while.
And oon the merueile that euer I dede reede, [p. 172 omc a a
Grettest and vnkouth pleynli onto me, 2256. 0m Asis to
Is how Xerses, kyng off Perse and Mede,
For to shewe a special syngulerte,
2222. gret] fals R.
2236. straunge] strong H. 2250. And namli] Anamly R.
2251. aduertise] aduersit H. 2252. renoun] resoun R
392,—Ci«C Xerxes attacks Greece [BK. 111
Out off Asie, ouer the Grete Se,
As seith myn auctour, whom I dar alegge, 2260
Into Europe made a myhti bregge.
a marvel that Sum men paraunter will therat disdeyne,
some men
perhaps will et And seyn it is a merueile nat credible;
things that == Yit crafft in cas to such thyng mai atteyne, 2264
seem impossible P ‘ ‘ :
cannevertheless Which bi nature semeth an inpossible:
ichede” =» And, as to me, it is a thyng odible,
Thynges tenpugne, awtentik and olde,
Which notable clerkis in ther daies tolde. 2268
tb doube the L hese newe men that han but litil seyn,
words of | iar, Nouther expert in crafft nor in nature,
For lak off resoun holde al such thyng veyn,
Thouh that it be remembred in scripture. 2272
For eueri meruail and eueri auenture
Is* straunge to hym, as I reherse can,
That lakketh the cause wherof the ground began.
Xerxes also had This said[e] Xerses hadde eek possessioun, 2276
Egypt and =—s Bee the title off his fader Darie,
a to ° ° .
make war oa the Off al Egipt, as maad is mencioun;
Spartans, ° .
oe But thei off Grece were to hym contrarie:
Wherfor he caste no lenger for to tarie, 2280
This proude prynce, but myhtili werreie
Lacedemonoys, which wolde hym nat obeie.
Room us: But oon that was callid Demaratus,
warned Which off that cuntre hadde aforn be kyng 2284
withinformation And was exilid, the stori tellith thus, _
tablets beneath That tyme with Xerses in houshold abidyng,
of wax. Which loued that lond, for al his exilyng,
Gaff them warnyng, to saue hem fro myschaunce, 2288
Off Xerses poweer and al his ordenaunce.
He wrot hem lettres grauen in a table,
All themprises* off Xerses, out off doute,
Off al his stuff and peeple incomparable, 2292
And off his noumbre and his gret{e] route.
2260. alegge] wele legge H. 2261. a] om. R, H.
2262. ther at parawntir wil H.
2265. an] om. R—impossible R. 2272. that] om. R.
2274. Is} Isto B,J, R.
2284. afore hadde R. 2285. And] he H —thus] vs R.
2291. themprises ] thenterprises B, R, J, H s.
2292. Off] & H. 2293. 2nd and] & of H, R 3.
BK. 111] Leontdas and the Stix Hundred 393
The which[e] table curid was withoute
Ful* subtili-with wex iplanyd pleyn,
That off his sonde ther was no lettre seyn. 2296
Thus was thentent off Xerses first discurid weve captained
Onto the Grekis, and al his fel* werkyng. by Leonidas,
But in o thyng thei gretli wer assurid,
Off trust thei hadde bi expert knowlechyng 2300
In Leonidas, ther noble famous kyng,
Which among Grekis, off prowesse & forsiht,
Was in tho daies holde on the beste knyht.
Off cheualrie callid the lode-sterre, 2304 prneet
The sunne off knyhthod, that shon so briht & sheene,
The berere up, bothe in pes and werre,
And strengest piler his parti to meynteene,
The Grekis nht hand ther noblesse to susteene, 2308
Charboncle off armys, merour off policie,
And surest capteyn a feeld to reule & guie.
And as myn auctour remembreth 1n his book, mina tea fcuk,
How in this cas he was nat rechfelles, 2312 to Thermopyie,
But in al haste foure thousand men he took,
To lette the weies and comyng off Xerses.
And bi an hill callid Termophiles,
Wher Persiens began first ther viage, 2316
He knyhtli caste to stoppe ther* passage.
And secreli espieng the comyng paces coe
Off kyng Xerses with strong apparaile, the strongest,
He, lik a knyht, made no tarieng, 2320
Ches out sexe hundred, armed in plate & maile,
Which 1n such cas myhte most auaile,
And in diffence and helpe off ther cuntre
Wolde rather deie than from the feeld to fle. 2324
And couertli thei took[{e] ther loggyng, Boe eae
And kept hem cloos, till it drouh to nyht. ane laste meal
And at ther dyner themsilff refresshyng, battle,
So as thei sat, in steel armed briht, 2328
The kyng abraide lik a manli knyht,
@
2294. curid] coverid H.
2295. Ful] For B—pleyned R. 2298. fel] fals B, J, R
2303. Was hoolde in tho daies R
2310. neat pares
2313. a on 23 16. viage] visage R.
2317. ee t
394 Leonidas’ Address to bis Officers [BK. 111
Into the feeld aforn thei shulde gon,
Riht thus he saide among hem euerichon:
saitike ood” oires,” quod he, “now dyneth merili, 2332
warriors be pre And with good wyn afforceth your corage,
night with the Lik goode knyhtis in purpos fynali,
nether world, For liff nor deth nat turnyng your visage,
But off assent, cast in your passage, 2336
As ye heer dyne now in especiall,
To suppe at nyht with goddis infernall.
holding together ‘This is to meene, ye shul your liff iuparte, [p. 173]
As hardi knyhtis, proudli to prouide 2340
Withynne the feeld assonder nat departe,
But keep you cloos, & for no dreed deuide.
Desir off worshepe make to be your guide,
Your expert noblesse eternali tauaunce 2344
Be quyk report off newe remembraunce.
and having in And hath this dai nothyng in memorife],
hope and good Nouther your richesse, your blood nor your kenreede,
Sauff onli hope and good trust off victorie, 2348
And hardi prowesse you to conducte and leede.
And thynkith knyhtli what shal be your meede,
With marcial palmys your renoun & your name
In the hiest place set in the Hous off Fame. 2352
“Though you And thouh ye been but a fewe in noumbre,
are but few in
number, Lat in your hertis o thyng be fantasied:
ope seo Whil dyuysioun doth you nat encoumbre,
are invincible.” Victorie in armys mai you nat be denyed; 2356
For nothyng is to conquest mor applied
Than trewe accord among your-silff to shewe,
Thouh ye in noumbre be [founde] but a fewe.”’
Gomforted by ~By* this counseil syngulerli notable, 2360
hey on the And be this kynges knyhtli* good language,
tents ateve, Thei reconforted heeld themsiluen* able
Ageyn ther fomen to holden ther passage.
And first off all, off hertli proud corage, 2364
2339. is]om. H.
2342. youl om. R — gp cloos] to gedir H.
2347. nor|ne R. 349. conduct er H.
2359. founde] om. R, Ri om.
2360. By] But B, But
2361. aces knyhtli] ie i kyngli B, R, J.
2362. themsiluen] themsilf B B.
BK. 111]
The Perciens mor mortali to greue,
Withynne ther tentis thei fill on hem at eue.
Thei off Perce idrownyd were with wyn;
This to seyen,* thoruh ther gret excesse
Thei lai and slepte lik as dronke swyn,
Ther wach nat kept: loo, how that dronkenesse
Causeth offte, off verrai reklesnesse,
Ful many a man, that wil nat take keep,
For to be moordred anyhtis in ther sleep.
And as this kyng dede his knyhtis leede,
The Percien tentis assailyng sodenli,
Or thei wer war or token any heede,
Them for taffraie thei made an hidous cri.
Diffence was noon vpon ther parti;
For men mai knowe bi olde experience,
In folkis dronke mai be no resistence.
Out off noumbre thei slowen off ther foon,
And cesed nat off al the longe nyht,
Till on the morwe that the sunne shoon,
That to beholde it was an ougli siht.
And proude Xerses put anon to fliht —
Euer the laste that wolde his foon assaile,
And ay the firste that fledde in bataile!
In his fliht so faste awei he ran,
For theryn was hooli al his trust! —
And off gret trauaile anon this Xerses gan
Off coward dreed to han so gret a thrust,
So dre he was, off salt sond and off dust.
And bi the weie serchyng ferr nor neer,
He nouther fond welle nor reuer.
Off auenture a meri ground he fond,
The water trouble and bloodi off colour;
And Xerses ther drank water with his hond,
Hym to refresshe in his dedli labour.
And, as he thouhte, he neuer drank licour
Xerxes 15 defeated and flees
395
when, drowned
in wine, they la
2368 unguarded an
sleeping.
2372
With a hideous
cry they rushed
on
2376
2380
and slew
without ceasing
all the long
night.
2384
Proud Xerxes
2388 fled as fast ashe
could, and,
overcome by
st,
2392
drank blood-
stained water
2 396 from a marsh.
To hym mor holsom, so streiht[e] stood the caas, 2400
Confect with spices, pyment nor ypocras.
2368. pis is H—seyne B. 2370. Ther] The R.
2385. proude] om. H — to] to the H.
2393. nor] or H, and P, R3. 2394. nor] ne H, R 3.
2395. nor. myry H, R 3, miry P, mery J, R, H. 5. :
2401. nor] or
396 Xerxes proposes to rob the Temples (BK. II
gris wat tie This was the firste myscheeff and the dreed
from which men Ty which that Xerses, the myhti prynce, stood.
may see that 7 ‘
Fortne Bas a0 Heer men mai see, such as list take heed, 2404
great possessions How geri Fortune, furious and wood,
and might of . .
princes who Wil nat spare, for richesse nor for good,
Goa’ *° 7°" Mihti pryncis, which list nat God to knowe,
From ther estatis to brynge hem doun ful lowe. 2408
With new = § O hatful serpent of hih presumpciouz,
resumption
Xerxes propored Ay onstaunchable with gredi vsurpyng,
berples of the Be newe trouble, off fals sedicioun,
Which list off pride receyue no warnyng: 2412
For now Xerses, off Perse & Mede kyng,
Purposid hath with odious apparaile
The temple off goddis contagiousli tassaile.
For as hym thouhte, it myhte nat suffise, 2416
To gret exaumple off his outraious pride,
How heer-toforn God dede hym chastise
Bi manys hand, to sette his pompe a-side.
But now off newe he gan ageyn prouide, 2420
Bi sacrilege his myhti hand to dresse,
To spoile Appollo and reue hym his richesse.
and sent four ‘Ther was in Delos a temple thilk[e] dai, [p. 174]
Most statli bilt and set up be masouns, 2424
Gret ymages, reliques, riche arai
Off gold and stonys in sundri mansiouns;
And ther Appollo to sundri questiouns
Gaff redi answere, the stori tellith thus, 2428
And he was callid Appollo Delphicus.
to pillage the Foure thousand men Xerses thedir sente,
Delian Apollo. Bi his auys chose out for the nonys,
Ful clenli armed; & as thei thedir wente 2432
To spoile the temple off gold and riche stonys,
With sodeyn leuene thei wer brent, flessh & bonys,
With tempest, thunder, hail & hidous reyn
Consumpt echon and neuer afftir seyn. 2436
piigtedigiacion J he grete Appollo, which shyneth briht in heuene,
consumed then Hfadde off this Xerses gret indignacioun,
with lightning. 7 °
Which made his peeple be consumpt with leuene,
2406. nor] ne R. 2408. to] om. H.
2417. oe ee R.
2428. answers R. 2434. ther] the R.
2435. tempest] om. H. 2439. be] to be H.
BK. 111] Xerxes’ Defeat at Salamis
In cruel punshyng off his presumpcioun.
Yit he purposed, to his confusioun,
Sithe on the lond he nothyng myhte wynre,
Vpon the se a werre to begynne.
Gan to make so gret an ordenaunce,
That his naueie couered al the se:
Yit Neptunus thouhte hym nat tenhaunce,
Withynnze his* boundis to ha[ue] no liberte;
For Themystodes with a smal meyne,
Beside a cite callid Salamyne,
Hym & his shippis brouhte onto ruyne.
Yit, as I fynde, this proude kyng Xerses
Hadde on his parti Themydora, the queene
Off Halcarnois, which put hirselff in pres,
Armed in platis that shon ful bnht and sheene.
And thenarme off Xerses to susteene,
This womman fauht[e] lik a fell woluesse,
And many Greek that dai she dede oppresse.
It was a straunge merueil for to heere,
To seen a woman s0 sturdi off visage;
Yit men expert aldai may seen and lere,
Thei be bi nature ful cruel off corage,
And no cowardis founde off ther language.
Sett at assai, and thanne it shal be seene,
‘Wher thei be feerful ther quarel to susteene!
Thei mai off meeknesse shewe a fair pretense, —
Sum serpent is off colour siluer sheene,
And summe floures, ful fressh off apparense,
Growe on thistles rouh[e], sharp and keene,
And summe that been angelic to seene,
And verai heuenli, with ther golden tressis,
Been at a preeff[e] verrai leonessis.
To seyn the sothe, a poore man mai be shent, — 2472
I dar no mor[e] speke off this mateere. . . .
But kyng Xerses, for al his proude entent,
Al his naueie and his peeple ifeere
Wer put to fliht & outraied off ther cheere.
2445. naueie] name R
2447. his] ae B, H, J, hye H 5, her - 2448. Themistocles P.
2455. And thenarme] The armey P
2461. Thei be bi] Thai beene of H, pei be of R 3.
2462. off ] at H. et: quarellis
397
Xerxes next
2444 began a war on
the sea, but his
ships were
scattered by
Themistocles
at Salamis,
although he was
aided by the
of
2452 Halicarnaseis
who fought like
a she-wolf.
It was a strange
thing: yet every
day men may
see that women
are no
cowards,— at
least, of their
words.
Some serpents
gleam like
silver, bright
flowers grow on
thistles, and
some women
2468 who look like
angels are on
occasion’
veritable
lionesses.
But as a poor
man may be
ruined for tell-
ing the truth,
I'll say no more.
King Xerxes
himself was
badly wounded,
398 Xerxes again defeated by the Greeks (BK. 111
Ther shippis drownyd among the wawes rude,
That non abod off al that multitude.
but again he ~Kyng Xerses hurt and woundid mortali,
forces against. Qnnethe he myhte the grete peyne endure; 2480
His quakyng herte quit hym so cowardli, —
On se and lond such was his auenture.
And yit ageyn his damages to recure,
Thre hundred thousand off fihteres he gan call, 2484
Vpon Grekis off newe for to fall.
Themistocles, A myhti duc callid Mardonyus
knowing what
acowardhe | Was capteyn maad his peeple for to leede;
was, informed .
him that his But Themystodes, myn auctour tellith thus, 2488
bridge was : -
broken, Knowyng off Xerses the cowardise & dreede,
A lettre made for to be sent in deede,
Enfourmyng hym, bi Grekis gret outrage
How off his bregge was broken the passage. 2492
and Xerxes fled QF which[e] merueil whan ther cam tidyng
one servant, ‘To kyng Xerses, he afftir anon mht,
As he that was aferd[e] off ech thyng,
Ful lik a coward took hym to the fliht. 2496
Fledde in a boot, lik a coward knyht,
Off al his peeple ther wer no mo iseyn
Tawaite vpon hym, sauff a chaumberleyn.
disper and Al his peeple departed heer and yonder, 2500
dying of, Stondyng in myscheeff and gret indigence;
To many a coost thei wente and rood asonder,
Pyned with hunger, lakked ther dispence,
Punshed also with onwar pestilence, 2504
Feeble off trauaile myhte nat endure
For impotence to karien ther armure.
full of deed’ Alas ech wai(e] lai ful off careynes; [p. 175]
pocies, the soll The soil with blood[e] steyned & the greene; 2508
blood and the air' The hair terrible off pathes & off pleynes,
Ravenous fowls That no man myhte endure it nor susteene,
fed ;
corpses. The sauour was so odious and oncleene.
2485. off]om. R. 2488. thus] vs R. 2490. be] om. H.
2498. wer] was H. 2499. sauff] but H.
2502. rode & went R. 2503. payned H.
2508. steyned ] soiled H.
2510. That_no man myht] bat men myht nat H — myht
endure it] mytht it endure R.
2511. The] ther H — sauour] fauour R — and] & so R.
BK. I11 Xerxes slain by Artabanus
Raueynous foulis, ful homli in ther siht,
Themsilff to feede vpon the corps aliht.
Thre hundred thousand off Perciens wer slayn,
Which Mardonyus aforn ful proudli ladde.
Off which[e] tidyng kyng Xerses was nat fayn,
But for distresse and sorwe gan to madde.
An[d] oon the laste myscheeff that he hadde,
Was whan Thymon, a noble Grekissh knyht,
Xerses disconfited & put his men to fliht.
This Thymon was sone to Meltiades,
His fadir whilom off Athenes kyng,
Which last off all outraied hath Xerses, —
Sauff off his eende ther fill a-nother thyng:
Artabanus, ful sleihti in werkyng,
Which to Xerses was nat suspect in deede,
Compassid his deth, in Bochas as I reede.
This Artaban was prouost off his hous
And an officer most especial, —
With his seuene sonys strong & despitous,
Vpon a nyht furious and fatal,
Fill vpon Xerses in his paleis roial.
And in his stori as it is remembrid,
On pecis smale thei han hym al dismembrid.
This was off Xerses the laste fynal meede, ~
Off his hih pride the funeral guerdoun;
From his too kyngdamys off Perse & [eek] Mede
Froward Fortune hath hym plukked doun.
What mai auaile the dominacioun
Off such pryncis as holde hemseluen evene
For to been egal with goddis hih in hevene?
Men list nat knowe such chaunges for no preeff,
A[nd] namli pryncis in ther gret puissaunces.
Geyn ertheli pereiles & al worldli myscheeff
Thei can prouide hem & set* ordynaunces,
As thei that dreede Fortunis variaunces;
But to Godward thei take litil heede,
For the gret richesse which thei do possede.
2513.
2519.
2523.
2537.
2543.
2545.
aliht] lihte H. 2517. to] forto R.
Cymon P—grekis R. 2521. Cymon P.
hath]om. R. 2529. speciall H.
eek] om. J, R 3, eke of P, eek of H 5.
And] A R— gret] om. R, J.
set} settyn B. 2548. richesse] myscheff H.
399
2512
Three hundred
thousand
Persians were
2516
2520
and Timon, son
of Miltiades
completed their
discomfiture.
2524
Not long after,
Artabanus and
his seven sons
fellupon Xerxes
in his palace and
slew him.
2528
2532
Thus ends the
lordship of
princes who
consider theme
selves equal to
the gods in
heaven.
2536
2540
take little
to God,
although careful
enough to guard
2544 themeelves
against worldly
miechance.
The
h
2548
400 The Vulgar Matertalism of Men (BK. 117
If they hear“ Yiff thei mai heren off an erthe-quaue
quake they Bees Toforn it falle, or any tokne see,
Than will thei gon anon themsilff to saue
Out off ther houses, & from ther tounf[e]s flee, 2552
To putte ther liff the mor in surete,
List ther beeldyng, maad off gret costage,
Fill vpon hem in that mortal rage.
icy wilt poe Or yiff an hors ronne out off his stable, 2566
him under a ~— Breke his coleer thikke, double & long,
pa , but P °
small care do Men will ordeyne a lok off iren able
ther own souls. To keepe hym in, be he neuer so strong.
And thus men can redressyn eueri wrong 2560
Touchyng the bodi, bi gret avisynesse;
Sauff for the soule thei will nothyng redresse.
gveriowe its Whan a ryuer passeth ferr his boundis,
banks they = Boilith vpward, fynt no resistence, 2564
endeavour to é
change its Wynneth land & ouerfloweth groundis,
i Drowneth toun[e]s with his violence, —
Yit men will trauaile to fynden a diffence;
To turne his cours sum weie shal be souht, 2568
But toward God men thynke lite or nouht.
i us Ageyn siknesse men seeke medicynes,
all manner of
all manner of Letuaries and dyuers pociouns,
to God they look Serche in phesik sundri disciplynes 2572
He no remedy. : . ‘
Them to diete in ther transgressiouns,
Restoratyves and eek confecciouns,
But onto Godward, in this present liff,
Men nat trauaile for no confortatiff. 2576
They wile Men ther bodies will putten in distresse
utmost faticue Off fals desir and coueitous feruence,
and hardship to
win treasure and i °
pat het ve Onli tacroche and wynne gret richesse,
in_ peril for Suffre cold, labour and violence, 2580
cine, = wand nouther spare for gold nor for dispence
To vndirfonge pereilles* off veynglorie,
Onli for thynges that be transitorie.
sailing by 4, hei passe mounteyns & many hidous roche, _— 2584
d fighti ’ .
and fighting | In hope it sholde to ther entent auaile,
oO many mortal monstre thei approche,
2549. an]one R. 255m toknes H. 2552. housen H.
2562. redresse] dresse
2575. this] his R. 2581. 2nd for] om. H.
2582. pereilles] peynes B.
BK. III} An Envoy on the Fall of Xerxes 401
And be many vnkouth se thei saile,
Iuparte ther liff in werre and in bataile, 2588
Be many daunger & many streiht thei ride
For worldli tresour, which shal no while abide.
But toward goodis that be perdurable, [p. 176] but towards
® e ° eternal pos-
Ful lite or nouht ther hertis thei enclyne; 2592 sessions they
never 100k.
Nor to the heuenli cumtre most notable,
Thei wil nat lefft up nouther hed nor chyne, —
Toward the speeris off Phebus & Lucyne,
Castyng ther stremys to vs fro so ferre, 2596
Which to considre all worldli men doon erre.
What myhte auaile the grete couetise Of what avail
Off kyng Xerses in [his] estaat roial? ambition of |
Or the gret peeple, which ye han herd deuise, — 2600 did his million
men ace
Ten hundred thousand; — the peeple was nat smal. Smpiish?
But, for al that, he hadde an hidous fal,
Whan that he was, as is toforn remembrid,
On pecis smale pitousli dismembrid. 2604
gq Lenvoye.
HIS tragedie put vs in remembraunce This tragedy
. : brings before
Off thonsekir flatryng & blyndnesse our minds the
Bothe off Fortune & off hir variaunce, & “Reblences af
And off hir ougli froward doubilnesse, 2608 Fortune, as
In Xerses shewed, for al his gret richesse, — iar al
To vs declaryng, pleynli in figure, riches.
A raueynous prynce mai no while endure.
Kyng Xerses hadde vnder his obeisaunce 2612 He thought the
Al Perse & Mede, the stori berth witnesse; small for him
Thouhte al erthe to litil in substaunce i esac
To staunche the etik off his gredynesse,
A frett off hauyng put hym in such distresse. — 2616
Whos fyn declarid, bi record off scripture,
A raueynous prynce mai no while endure.
He made also an odious ordenaunce, and in his pride
° é he attempted to
Off surquedie his poweer for to dresse, 2620 rob the temples
of the gods;
To robbe the goddis, maugre ther puissaunce,
And spoile ther templis, off froward wilfulnesse,
2593. cuntre] company R. 2596. fro] frome H — so] om. R.
2600. elon R. 2603. is]om. R. 2609. grete] om. R.
2621. the] ther R.
402 The End of Artabanus, Xerxes’ Murderer [BK. 11
Take ther tresours ageyn al mhtwisnesse.
But thei hym shewed, off sodeyn auenture, 2624
A raueynous prynce mai no while endure.
but great Apollo Grete Appollo took on his men vengaunce
took Reneeance,
and God will 1” With onwar tempest, for al ther sturdynesse,
not euffer su
men to last mae Leuene and thunder brouht hem to myschaunce, 2628
Guerdoun most hable ageyn ther gret falsnesse, —
In pryncis hertis, pleynli to expresse.
Who be raueyne richessis will recure,
God wil nat suffre hym longe to endure. 2632
Noble Prince 1 1
Noble Princes Noble Pryncis, stable in your constaunce,
the fall of proud Ye that desire to stonde in sekirnesse,
Xerxes; avoid
robbery and Remembreth offte vpon the fatal chaunce
gavin, ane you Or proude Xerses and his cursidnesse, 2636
Your-silff disposyng in your hih noblesse,
Yiff that ye list your statis to assure,
Escheweth raueyne & ye shal longe endure!
[How Artabanus moordred kyng xerses and how
aftir himsilf was moordred. | !
pened EXT these tragedies, wepyng & dolerous, 2640
his pen, had Whil Bochas stynte, & wolde ha been in pes,
the murderer of A knyht appered callid Artabanus,
err t before Which hadde aforn[e] moordred kyng Xerses;
pins, And gan his compleynt for to putte in pres, 2644
Ful concludyng, to speke in wordes pleyn,
Who vseth moordre, bi moordre he shal be slayn.
game ets This Artabanus, be record off writyng,
With Xerses prouost whilom, as I reede, | 2648
Falsli conspired be sleihte off his werkyng,
For to be kyng bothe off Perse & Mede,
Hauyng seuene sonys, which that wer in deede
Worthi knyhtis, manli and riht strong, 2652
Al-be ther fader was set to do gret wrong.
piesa 1 For he presumed bi vsurpacioun,
of Persia, and In Perse and Mede to quench the cleer[e] liht,
after Xerxes’
death And trouble the lyne off iust successioun: 2656
1 MS. J. leaf 73 recto.
—~_~_— oa
BK. IIT | The Treason of Artabanus 403
For so as he off force and nat off nht,
Nothyng rasemblyng to a trewe knyht,
The moordre off Xerses falsli dede ordeyne,
Riht so he caste to moordre his sonys tweyne. 2660
And to conclude pleynli and nat tarie, sought to
The said[e] kyng that callid was Xerses, Darius aad
Hadde too sonys, the yongest callid Darie, re
And the tother named Artaxerses, 2664
Which, as the stori reherseth doutf[e]les,
Wer be discent bor[e]n for to succeede,
Afftir ther fader to regne in Perse & Mede.
The moordre off Xerses outward was nat knowe, 2668 He told Arta-
xerxes that
Nor how Artabanus hadde the tresoun wrouht, Darius had set
Till afftirward withynze a litil throwe pte ae
He hadde off newe forged out & souht Pee
Fals odious treynes that wer neuer thouht: 2672
Tolde Artaxerses, as he gan with hym rowne,
How Darie caste to ocupie the crowne,
And how the deth off Xerses was ordeyned -[p. 177] and that he
Onli be Darie and be noon othir wiht. 5656 che
Wh hich auhte be compleyned eS ati
erupon, wnhicn a pieyned, and was also
Artaxerses prouyded anon mht oe
The slauhtre off Darie; & so, ageyn al riht,
This yonger brother in his innocence 2680
Was falsli slayn, and dede non offence.
Ye wete, be whom this tresoun was compassid, ne a sesult
Twen brethre tweyne to make dyuysioun, “aninin Bik
The yonger slayn, & nothyng hath* trespasid, 2684"
Most redi were to the destruccioun
Off Artaxerses; for in conclusioun,
Whan the brethre moordred wer in deede,
Artabanus thouhte to succeede. 2688
But Artaxerses, be pleyn instruccioun Artaxerxes
Ff . was informed of
Off oon that callid was* Baccarfilus, Artabanus’
treason,
Be toknys kneuh the couert fals tresoun
2668. Xerse H. 2672. neuer wer R. 2673. Artaxarses H.
2677. auhte] ouht toH. 2680. yonger] yonge R
2682. wite R, wote H.
ae yoneer] younger brothir R — hath nothyng B — hath]
ad R.
2688. for to H.
2690. was callid B, a — Baccaryus H 5, Baccabassus P.
2691. kneuh] know R
404 Darius plots Artabanus’ Death (BK. 111
Off this forsaid double Artabanus, 2692
And how that he be treynes outraious
Hadde Xerses slayn, as ye han herd toforn,
And Darie appechid, wherbi that he was lorn.
and seach to But off this vnkouth straunge tresoun wrouht, 2696
reckoning. | Whan Artaxerses hadde knowlechyng,
But as he was . .
not powerful. Bi gret auys weies he hath souht,
cougn todo Artabanus to brynge to rek[e]nyng.
But speciali he dradde hym off o thyng: 2700
He feeble was to brynge this thyng aboute,
Off his seuene sonys he stood in so gret doute.
he commanded But for tacomplisshe fulli his entent
al] the worthies , : °
of Persia tocome Ful secreli, this was his ordenaunce: 2704
To all the worthi he hath his lettres sent,
Duellyng in Perse vnder his obeisaunce,
Withoute excus or lenger attendaunce,
Armed echon, and in especial | 2708
To come in haste onto his court roial.
armed tohis Cause off ther komyng was to hem nat knowe,
court. No one
knew his The kynges purpos was holden so secre
si as And kept so cloos, bothe from hih & lowe, 2712
That to his menyng no man was pryve,
Except the kyng saide he wolde see
What noumbre off men, yiff it cam to neede,
In his diffence he myht[e] gadre* and leede. 2716
Among others, And among other cam Artabanus
Artabanus ‘: °
came, armed Onto the court, and list nat for to faile, —
n mau. °
ene A man that was cruel and coraious,
Ful off sleihtis in al his gouernaile, 2720
Which thilke tyme armyd was in maile;
For he with hym non other armour ladde,
Sauff on his bak an haberioun he hadde.
To him Thanne Artaxerses, beyng in his strengthe, 2724
I should like to “For that my maile wantith off his lengthe,
habergeons with 2 Wolde with the chaunge myn haberioun.”
ial The tother hauyng noon euel suspeccioun, 2728
Ongirt hymsilff[e], wolde no lenger bide,
Bothe suerd & dagger cast hem ferr a-side.
2702. stood in] hadde R, J, had P.
2711. so] om. R. 2712. frome both H. 2716. gadrede B.
2717. Andjom. R. 2724. beyng] kyng R — his] om. H.
BK. IIT] _ Artabanus slain by Darius
And whil that he threuh off his haberioun,
And with the maile stoppid was his siht,
He beyng naked, for short conclusioun,
The kyng out pullith a suerd[e] keene & bnht;
And thoruh the herte he rooff hym anon riht.
And afftir that, off indignacioun
Took his seuene sonys & cast hem in prisoun.
Off ther eende what sholde I mor endite,
Nor off ther deth make a digressioun?
God mai his vengaunce a while weel respite,
But moordre will out, & al such fals tresoun.
And for Artaban hadde a condicioun,
Falsli to moordre, as ye toforn ha[ue] seyn,
With onwar moordre he guerdonyd was ageyn.
Thus euer moordre requereth for his wages
Sclaundre inportable, odious for to heere, —
A woord diffamous, most foul in al languages,
The soun horrible bi report to appeere,
A clips duryng, whos dirknesse may nat cleere;
For this woord moordre, most ougli & onfair,
Bi a rehersyng infectith al the hair.
405
And as
Artabanus drew
2732 his habergeon
off over his
head, Artaxerxes
stabbed him to
the heart with
his sword.
2736
Thus murder is
punished wi
murder,
2740
2744
and there is no
word more foul
in any language;
its spoken sound
infects all the
2748 air.
[Off duk Palantus, and Spartenois werred them of
Missene for rauysshing theire maidenes. | '
At FTIR the deth[e] and [the] fatal cas
And pitous moordre off Artabanus,
Next in ordre appered to Bochas
A myhti duc, callid Palantus,
Sone off a knyht Inamed Arathus.
Which was exiled, thouh he no tresoun mente,
Out off his cite, that callid was Tarente.
Vpon his exil he sore gan compleyne,
Besechyng Bochas to getyn hym a space
Withynne his book, to write his greuous peyne,
Al-be that he whilom stood in grace
2732.
2746. mportable H— for Jom. H.
2752. the] om, H, R, 4 R3,H1, Hs, H4,
d. bas the. |
2755. Phalantus P.
2758. Tharente H.
1 MS. J leaf 73 verso.
Next in order
2752 appeared
Phalanthus, 800
of Aracus, who
was exiled from
Tarentum.
2756
[p. 178] Fortune raised
him from a
2760 knight to the
estate of duke
his] be H. 2734. pullith] plukkith H.
ch of H. 2739. alom. H. 2740. weel]om. R.
3, R 2, Sloane;
2756. Inamed] named R — Aratus P.
406 The Spartans and Messentans [BK. 111
Be glad aspectis off Fortunys face;
For she hym reised be fauour off hir myht 2764
To dukis estat from a ful poore knyht.
at the time But ceriousli this mater to conveie,
Spartans made How he was maad{e] duk & gouernour,
Messenians, who Whan Sparteyns gan mortali werreie 2768
ther maidens ish Messeniens, as seith myn auctour,
cigieasfestival. With gret costage and deligent labour.
And cause was this; for thei with myhti hond
Rauesshid be force all maidenys off that lond. 2772
For this peeple, now named Spartenoys,
As the stori cleerli can deuise,
Wer callid aforn[e] Lacedemonoys,
In armis preued, manli and mht wise. 2776
And whil thei dede a solempne sacrefise
Onto ther goddis, the peeple off Messenye
Rauesshid ther maidenys, or thei it koude espie.
So the Spartans Qn which[e] wrong for to do vengaunce, 2780
Messeniaand ‘The Spartenois kauhte indignacioun;
vowed never to
depart until the And off assent, with al ther hool puissaunce,
town was won- Thei leide a siege round aboute the toun.
And off o will and oon affeccioun 2784
Thei made a vow* the siege whan thei begunne,
Neuer to departe til the toun wer wonze.
[[H]ow Spartenois lay ten yere atte sege and how
their wyves displesid with their longe absence
sent hem a message vt infra. |!
They lay before Afor the toun fulli ten yeer thei lai,
it ten years, : AAs
vatil their wives And fro the siege, as the: hadde maad ther oth, 2788
impatient at. 1. hei nat departed nouther nyht nor dai,
their absence
tnd sent a _—sdBut stille abood and nat assonder goth.
message, tees Theroff ther wyues beyng at hom wer wroth;
were tired of “To ther husbondis a massager thei sente, 2792
iving alone,
Vnder these woordis declaryng ther entente.
2764. 7 in H. 2765. fuljom. R, J.
2775. toforne H.
2785. a vow] avow B.
2787. Afforne H. 2789. nor] ne H.
1 MS. J. leaf 73 verso, inner margin.
BK. 111] Duke Phalantbus and bis Spartans
Saide it was nat accordyng with resoun,
Thei lik widwes to lyue disconsolat,
Withoute confort or consolacioun,
Ferr from ther husbondis to stonde al desolat,
Myscheuys considred, that fall in ech estat
Be long absence, which ech man sholde dreede,
Thoruh duyers siknesse that fall in womanheede.2800
“The tid abit nat for no maner man,
Nor stynt his cours for no creature;
And hard it 1s, as we reherse can,
Thyng to withstonde that komf[e]th off nature. 2804
Harm doon be kynde is froward to recure;
And ther is founde ful litil sekirnesse,
Wher-as nature afforceth brotilnesse.
This litil sonde auhte inouh suffise, 2808
To declare damage that mai fall
Be long absence, folkis that be wise.
Sumtyme departed, ageyn men may nat call;
That seelde is seyn, in loue doth appall;
And nothyng mor maketh wyues erre,
Than disseueraunce off folk that be in werre.”
This was theffect, pleynli in substaunce,
Sent to ther husbondis, which at the siege lai,
Compleynyng thei hadde had no plesaunce
Space off ten yeer, as in louys pla;
But desolat, in serwe and gret affrai,
Ther liff thei ladde, affermyng in sentence,
Cause off ther constreynt was ther long absence.
And whan the lettres wer at the siege rad
Toforn the cite in al ther mortal stryues,
Thei wer astonyd and gan to wexe sad,
And verrai weri almost off ther lyues,
For to considre the compleynt off ther wyues.
Till ther capteyn a* remedie out souht,
Be whos counsail euene thus thei wrouht:
First olde knyhtis that hadde the siege sworn
It for tacomplisshe, and cast hem to be trewe,
His counsail was, as thei hadde hiht beforn,
To holde ther promys & theroff nothyng rewe;
But yonge knyhtis, that wer come off newe,
2797. allom.R. 2812. seldom P. 2814. folkis R.
2816. the]om. R, H. 2818. Spaces R.
2821. 1st ther] om. R. 2827. a] and B.
2812
2816
2820
2824
2828
2832
2796
407
and that if their
husbands didn’t
look out, the
might find
others had
taken their
places;
at
for thereis little
security where
nature afforces
frailty.
When the mes-
sage was read
at the siege,
there was great
consternation,
and Phalanthus
suggested that
the old knights
should keep
their vow and
remain, but
that the
younger ones
could return
home if they
wished.
408 The Parthenie and their Troubles (BK. 111
Mihte as thei list[e], freli at ther will,
Chese wher thei wolde go or bide still.
And heerupon for ther most auail, 2836
In haste ther capteyn, as maad is remembraunce,
Off hih prudence gaff hem this counsail:
That knyhtis olde, lich ther assuraunce,
Sholde off the siege haue the gouernaunce, 2840
And yonge knyhtis, most fressh & weel beseyn,
Sholde from the siege hom be sent ageyn.
This they did; The1 made among hem a ful straunge
and when they
reached home ordenaunce [p. 179]
to exchange At ther hom comyng: withoute difference 2844
wives and each
to take the fret LO entirchaunge ther wuyes for plesaunce,
one that came And take hir first that cam to ther presence.
This was thaccord among hem in sentence,
Most redi weie, to ther opynyoun, 2848
To engendrure and procreacioun.
So, without. Ther was among hem quarel nouther striff
quarreling, they
misused one In this mateer, nor no variaunce;
another’s wives; ° .
and the children For eueri man mysused othres wiff 2852
were called” 10 ther desirs as was to hem plesaunce.
Partheniz, = And thus childre thoruh this ordenaunce
tga in That wer engendnid, the cas 1s thus befall,
Parthenois men dede hem afftir call. 2856
Which in our tunge, to speke in woordes pleyne,
Afftir the Greek, who list considre and see,
Is no mor[e], platli for to seyne,
Than thilke childre which engendrid be 2860
In auoutrie: wherfor, in that cuntre,
Parthenois off custum thei wer namyd,
Born off wombes which that wer diffamyd.
The result was, Lhe fals occasioun off this auoutrie 2864
that noone hee Caused afftir gret myscheeff & damage,
his iaheritance, "That no man koude, as for his partie,
Be successioun, whan he cam to age,
Be title off mht cleyme his heritage; 2868
For wher a lyne falsli doth proceede,
Hard is to knowe be mht who shal succeede.
2835. abyde R.
2836. heerupon] therupon R.
2840. 1st the] om. H. 2842] om. R.
2849. and] and mak R. ~—_ 2850. _nouther] nor H.
BK. I11 |
‘The disturbaunce off fals successioun
And titles cleymed, afforced with gret myht,
Wher that auoutnie hath domynacioun
And is supportid off will & nat off mht,
The Parthenia take leave of Sparta 409
adultery.
And cleym off trouthe hath lost his cleer[e] liht, —
Thouh ther parties myhti been and stronge,
God wil nat suffre thei shal endure longe.
And Spartennois peisyng all these thynges,
How fals assurance was in ther lynage,
The ientil blood troublid first off kynges;
For no man knew, off hih nor low parage,
His owne fader be liknesse off visage, —
Nor fader non, bi his gret errour,
Koude yeue no title to his successour.
Wherupon folwed a gret myschaunce,
Hatful to heere: thoruhout the cuntre
Ech man troubled in his cuntenaunce,
Who sholde cleyme be any liberte
To entre his lond or to stonde fre,
Such doubte thei hadde, ech man for his partie;
So importable was the[r] auoutrie!
This grete myscheeff, who-so taketh heed,
Be long processe made hem to knowe & see
How thei wer able, as be likliheed,
For ther outrages to* fall in pouerte.
And off assent thei cast hem for to fle,
Vnder a capteyn, be strong & myhti hond,
Fro* that cuntre to wynze sum other lond.
And, as I reede, thei ches duk Palantus,
Off whom I spak, to gouerne ther passage,
Takyng no leue, the stori tellith thus,
At ther departyng, begynnyng ther viage,
Thei wer so confus off cheer & off visage:
For ther was noon off al that grete route,
To chese his fader but that stood in doute.
2878. Spartennois] Partennoys R, Parthenois J, P.
2881. louh nor hih H
2895. to] forto B.
2898. Fro] For B, R, J.
2902. At] And,R.
2876
No one knew
who his father
was; no rcs
was sure 0:
2880 own 09on;
2884
and as no one
was able to
establish a
valid claim to
his own land,
2888
they feared that
2892 they would fall
into poverty,
and decid
to flee their
country and try
to win another.
2896
Duke
Phalanthus was
2900 chosen captain;
and they left
without taking
leave,
2904
410 | Phalanthus conquers Tarentum [ BK. III
confused and = Thei heeld hemsilff[e] verrai[ly] ashamed,
overcome with -
shame, and =6 And for shame out off that lond thei wente,
arrived at : dé :
Tarentum,a Lik a peeple disclaundred & diffamed 2908
city in Naples. i ; ‘
Thoruh thauoutrie, to which thei dede assente.
And to a cite that callid was Tharente,
Which stant in Poile, a myhti strong curtre,
This duk Palantus cam with his meyne. 2912
There Duke ~~ And ther he putte, thoruh his gret[e] myht,
Srelied the ~— The citeseyn[e]s out off that cite,
Roe coven And gat Tharente ful lik a manli knyht,
prosperity, | And ther abood in long prosperite "2916
As gouernour & duk off that cuntre,
Till that his peeple be fals collusioun
Hym to depryue souht out occasioun.
patil be wes, Thei hym exilid whan he was fall in age. 2920
subjects in = [Loo, what it is in comoums to assure!
his old age.
Men cannot put Stormy off herte, onseur off ther corage,
their trust in :
the commons. That seelde or neuer ther frenship doth endure.
Men mai to-dai ther fauour weel recure, 2924
And tomorwe lat set it at a preeff:
Thei rathest hyndre whan men stonde at myscheeff.
[Off Ceson Quincius exiled and Graccus take
prisonere. |!
Ceso Quintius CAN no mor reherse off Palantus, [p. 180]
and Gracchus,
Prince of the Duk & ledere off Parthennois; 2928
Equi, next began , ae gk
tocomplaia with But I will tell how Ceson Quincius
one voice to e ° °
Bochas. Cam tofor Bochas, with a ful pitous vois
His tale gan, and* Graccus prince off Equois, —
Bothe attonys gan ther song entune, 2932
Most doolfulli to pleyne vpon Fortune.
ee ea ome, Lhis myhti prince Ceson Quincius
although 2 = Compleyned first, as maad is mencioun,
How thei off Rome wer contrarious 2936
And felli wrouhte to his destruccioun,
And ful oniustli banshed hym the toun,
2906. verraily] verrai MSS., very P.
2929. Ceso Quintius P.
2930. ful] om. H.
2931. and] how B, J, and how P, H s, R 3.
1 MS. J. leaf 74 recto.
ay
BK. II! ] Ceso Quintius and Clelius Gracchus
And natwithstandyng he was a dictatour,
Hym to confounde thei dede ther labour.
Cause off his exil compassid, as I reede,
That he was slouh, thei saide, & necligent
Hym to defende touchyng apel in deede,
[Which] that ageyn hym was wrouht off fals
entent.
Yit Cincinnatus, his fader, be assent
Paide for amendis, as seyn cronycleris,
Met out off lond drauht off thre arblasteris.
2044
Yit his enmyes wolde nat be content,
But proceded that he was exiled,
Dede execucioun off his iugement,
As in his story ful pleynli is compiled,
He afftir neuer myht be reconciled,
Which I ha[ue] pite to put in remembraunce, —
So litel offence sholde ha[ue] so gret vengaunce!
2948
2952
Graccus off Rome, callid Cloellius,
Prynce off Equoys, myz auctour seith the same, 2956 Prince
Was in his tyme notable and glorious,
And a gret duk, ful renommed off fame.
But how the peeple of Equois first took name,
Vnder support, that no man hal{ue] disdeyn,
I will the processe declare heer in certeyn.
2960
TIohn Bochas seith, ther is a nacioun
Which that first[e] wer callid Hunois,
And secondli also bi successioun
Off ful long tyme named Anathois;
And aldirlast men callid hem Equois,
Lich as I trowe myn auctour seith the same,
Off hors most swifft thei took[e] first the name. 2968
2964
And as it is remembred in sentence,
Bi ther manheed and famous hardynesse,
Geyn Alisandre thei made a strong diffence
On hors[e]bak thoruh ther gret swiftnesse. 2972
2943.
2944.
2950.
2951.
2959.
e name H, ber name R 3, ther name
2960. haue will H. 2961. heer] om H.
2970. manhode R, manhod H.
ape appele P, thappell R 3.
that m. VP. 2949. _proceede R.
erecadoiaa extorcioun J.
As} & H— ne om. R.
Aequoys P — first took] took first Sa R, J, P
5
— name]
2940
4it
The Romans
a he
eglected to
defend himeelf
in a suit,
although his
father Cincin-
natus made
amends for him.
But his enemies
were unfor-
giving and he
was never after
recalled.
Clelius
Gracchus was
prince of the
who were first
called Hunois
and afterwards
Anathois,
and fought
bravely against
Alexander in
the Caucasus,
412 Gracchus overcome by Cincinnatus [ BK. 11
Beside the hillfe], pleynli to expresse,
Which in cronycles is callid Caucasus,
This peeple off Equois were victorious.
and were great To ther noblesse, pleynli as I fynde,
horsemen,
conquering Nothyng in erthe was mor expedient
India and all In ther conquest off Ethiope and Inde,
ne As hors most swifft, seruyng ther entent,
Therbi conqueryng al the orient.
So gret prowesse was in ther passage,
That Equois brouhte al Egipt in seruage.
ba pie hard Thus wher-euer Equois dede ride,
hes Gracchus Lhei gat gret good to ther possessioun.
incited them And Graccus was ther gouernour & guide,
against the e ° e e
Romans, he, Which bi his steryng and fals suggestioun
was ° e
Cincinnatus, ” Ageyn the Romeyns fill in rebellioun;
a poor but
worthy knight, But to withstonde hym thei sent out anon mht .
Cyncynatus, preued a ful good knyht.
He was weel trusted and knowe in the toun,
And for his prudence chose a dictatour.
His liflode smal and his possessioun,
Al-be he was a worthi werreiour,
Which hath venquysshid be his knyhtli labour
The said{e] Graccus, for al his gret poweer,
And hom to Rome brouht hym prisoneer.
Cincinnatus = Cyncynatus in his] char was set,
was granted
a tri h, , inci 1 i 1
gra ceieckat Callid Quincius, for this gret victorie,
died in prion, And most solempneli with senatours met,
Which gaff to hym, for tencrece his glorie,
Laude off tryumphe, to putte hym in memonie.
And Graccus afftir, for his rebellioun,
With cheynys bounde, cast in a derk prisoun.
which isan’ =~ And ther he deide in ful gret myscheeff,
evidence to us , Z :
ret Fone $0 ACIr his conquestis first famous & notable.
deceitful. An euidence to vs and a gret preeff,
How that Fortune is ai fals & onstable,
Euer double, froward and deceyuable,
The fall off Graccus declare can ful weel,
That whilom sat so hih vpon hir wheel.
2974. callid is H.
2980. Therbi] gretly H.
2976
2980
2984
2992
3000
3004
2983. ride] abyde R. 2988. out]om.H. 2993. was he R.
BK. ur] A Chapter on unjust Judges 413
[Here Bochas rehercith the tirannye of Apius and
falsnesse of Iuges. |!
ATWITHSTANDYNG Bochas aforn hath
told [p. 181]
Off Appius the falsnesse importable, $017 oe
And his outrages & surfetis manyfold, Hid alrendy old
To be remembred hatful and repreuable, honesty of
“ ° Appius, he
Yit as hym thouhte, it was heer couenable, thought it
To mor rebuk and spottyng off his name, 3016 rehearse it once
Newe to reherse his sclaundre & his diffame. seems ote
° ® e name.
The grete offencis off this Appius
And oppressiouns that he vpon hym took,
Made hym to growe so inli coueitous, 3o20 A lustful,
Thoruh his rauyne that al the peeple quook, tyrant,
As ye mai seen in the seconde book,
Wher myn auctour doth cleerli specefie
His fraude in doomys, & his fals lecherie. 3024
Eek off this tirant remembred ye mai reede ee
Cheeff iuge he was, with other officeris, ment about
e e e e e t
Callid decemvir; & thoruh his pride in deede, standards and
banners borne
Ageyn the custum of them that wern his feeris, 3028 before him in a
manner quite
He made be born standardis & baneris different from
In other wise, off hih presumpcioun, dayesand
. . whereas
Than vsid was aforn in Rome toun. formerly there
These iuges hadde a custum & maneer, 3032 twelve
Lik h ° ° h sergeants, this
1K tner estatis in tner gouernauz7ce, sippius orgained
Ech afftir other to ha[{ue] born a baneer shana be es6
: men of arms, to
Wher thei wente, such was thordynaunce, pape tits
Be twelue sergauntis noumbred in substaunce. 3036 People.
But Appius off pride and gret outrage
I-chaungid hath that custum and vsage.
He ferst ordeyned ech sholde in his place
Off decemvir haue a baner born, 3040
In ther walkyng, the peeple to manace,
An hundred men off armys them toforn,
And twenti ouer, bi a statut sworn.
3011. to-forn R, toforne H.
3020. to]om. R—so]for R. 3024. fals] om. R.
3025. om. R. 3031. vsid eave were R.
3034. to haue born] ta borne H, to ha born J, R 3.
1 MS. J. leaf 74 verso.
414 A Chapter on unjust fudges (BK. II
Wherbi the cite bar gret cost in deede, 3044
And al the peeple wer put in feer & dreede. ;
They thought To seen the sergantis walke in plate & maile,
for judges to ; ° °
for judges to go [hei thouhte it was a merueilous werkyng,
fashions bur all Iuges to gon with such[e] apparaile 3048
wanted was In ther procedyng, as ech had been a kyng.
¢ plead and And hool thentent off Appius menyng,
people at ni’ Was that he sholde, off power & off myht,
will. Doon what hym list, wher it wer wrong or ryht, 3052
The nhtful pun[y]she and the gilti spare,
Fauoure wrong for bribes & for meede.
The peeple oppressid stood in sorwe & care,
Fond no socour to help hem in ther neede; 3056
Lawe was ther non, for resoun lai be dreede,
Will was iuge and plesaunce equtte,
And thus be maistri was gouerned the cite.
After tne death And as it is remembred be Bochas, - 3060
Appius was lecherous off nature,
And cauht a quarel, as ye han herd the caas,
Ageyn Virgynea, a maide cleene & pure.
And for he sholde in hir nothyng recure 3064
Touchyng his lust, hir fader in that striff
With a sharp suerd made hir lose hir liff.
he was putin , And for this tiraunt be fals ribaudie
in prison, Caused hir deth be hasti violence, 3068
And for he sholde hir beute nat maistrie,
Deieng a maide in hir chast innocence,
Therfor he was demed in sentence,
As 1s toforn maad cleer[e] mencioun, 3072
For to be cheyned and deien in prisoun.
and the Eek decemvir losten ther power,
decemvirs were
abolished and ~=And neuer in Rome afftir bar no name,
absnees Nor off that sect was maad non officer; 3076
And among all Appius bar the blame,
Whos crym reboundeth to his eternal shame,
As ye han herd[e], who that can discerne, —
And thanze tribunys wer chose for to gouerne. 3080
3047. werkyng] walkyng R.
3050. menyng] meevyng R.
3064. no thyng im hir H.
3071. demed] demyng H.
3074. decemvir] decemviri P.
BK. II! An Envoy on venal Judges
And in Bochas lik as it is founde,
The said[e] 1uges in myscheeff dede fyne;
Whil Appius lay in prisoun bounde,
Exiled werfe]n all the tother nyne.
The good, the tresour off them & off ther lyne
Achetid was, for short conclusioum,
To comoun profit & encres off the toun.
¢ Lenvoye.
HIS litil tragedie doth shortli heer deuise,
What myschef folweth for the grete onriht
Vsid be iuges in many sundni wise:
For whan that fauour bleendid hath ther siht,
And innocence is bor doun with myht,
And in his quarel pouert may nat proceede,
Because that trouthe oppressid 1s with meede.
A iuge sholde off equite despise
To take gifftes off any maner wiht,
And redi been all wrongis to chastise,
From all gifftes turne awei his siht,
His handis close, his eris stoppe ariht,
And been ai war, for frenshipe, hate or dreede,
That trouthe be nat oppressid with no meede.
The noble doctryn and vertuous emprise
Off philisophres, that hadde so gret insiht,
Was this to iuges, that prudent wer & wise:
For freend or fo ther doomys so be diht,
Off rihtwisnesse that the sunze briht
Eclipsed neuer, list men for ther falsheede
Reporte that riht was put a-bak for meede.
Noble Pryncis, supportours off iustise,
Callid lodesterris to yeue the peeple liht,
On Appius lat iuges nat* practise,
[p.
415
While Appius
lay in prison,
the other judges
were exiled and
their goods and
treasure
escheated for
the common
profit.
This little
3088 tragedy shews
what mischief
can be done by
venal judges, to
whom might is
right.
3092
A judge ought
182] to denice pits:
chastise all
3096 wrongs and not
allow truth to
be overcome by
rewards.
3100
Such was the
noble doctrine
of philosophers,
bg nage
judges shou
3104 never allow the
sun of righteous-
- ness to
eclipsed.
3108
Noble poncee
do not A judges
follow the
example of
PPP ius —
That trouthes laumpe be cleer bothe dai & nyht. 3112 law through
Your office peised, that longeth to a knyht,
Hold up the balaunce off doom in your manheede,
That lawe in iuges be nat corupt with meede!
3085. lynes H. 3088. heer] om. J. 3091. that] the R.
3094. ee trouhe R.
3106. that] o 3108. a-bak] away H.
3111. lat nat lage B.
416 In Praise of the former Age [ BK. 111
G Bochas ageyn thontrowith of Iugis.
Ase pate: Ste vpon the deth off Appius
ragniy thar | S* And his rebukes for his gret outrage,
js set ‘oa Bochas be writyng wex sumwhat irous
age and vir~ Geyn iuges false, & thouht in his corage
live. Thei shulde be sad & demeur off age,
And that ther liff be vertu sholde drawe,
. To keepe the preceptis & statutis off the lawe.
They ought to
havokacwledge Lhei ouhte off resoun themseluen to habile,
ud devore shall To haue science off philosophie,
time to civil And knowe ther textis off canoun & cyuyle,
’ And therupon her wittis hool applie;
For cunnyng iuges be prudent policie
Cause ordenaunces, in lawe comprehendid,
Thoruh nhtful doom gretli to be comendid.
Losin Iustise off lawe doth rewmys enlumyne,
thing to all = Susteneth trouthe, supporteth innocence,
Off raueynourfe]s boweth doun the chyne,
Punsheth robbours for ther gret offence,
Sluggi truantis for ther necligence,
And feyned beggeris, that gretli disauaile,
Constreyneth them to labour & trauaile.
and in old time
the founders f Foundours off lawe bi antiquite,
law took care : :
tbat cine Caused in londis was suffred non errour,
went no further And made off pryncis the roial maieste
in their
triumphs than To shyne in worshepe, be deligent labour,
Ged and Nature Wrestid corages off many conquerour,
permitted. —_ That ther tryumphes no ferther sholde atteyne
Than lawe off God & nature dede ordeyne.
nee Will was that tyme vnder subieccioun
pitpsceant ds Off rihtwisnesse, be trouthe ful weel conveied,
to reason. Sensualite was seruant to resoun,
And froward lust was vnder lok weel keied;
Sentence off statutis was nat disobeied,
The riche dede nht thoruhout eueri Iond,
Poore folk lyued be labour off ther hond.
3123. bhemmecnsen tier silff H.
3124. be science
3128. Cause] Cause of R.
3130. illumyne R.
3134. Slouggi R.
3116
3120
3124
3128
3132
3136
3140
3144
BK. Ill] In Praise of the former Age
Lordshipe that tyme auoided meyntenaunce,
Hoolichirch lyued in parfitnesse;
Knyhthod tho daies for trouthe whet his launce,
And fals extorsioun hadde non interesse;
Marchantis wynzyng cam al off rihtwisnesse,
Artificers the werkdai wer nat dill,
And bisynesse off labour heeld the brill.
Women that age farsid wer nor hornyd,
Nor ther tailes wer nat serpentyne;
Wis men off foli, nor clerkis wer nat scornyd,
Which in science most fresshli dede shyne.
Lawe disherited non heires from ther lyne,
Lesyngmongers fond that tyme no socours,
And flaterers thanne wer maad no confessours.
This goldene world[e], flouryng in vertu,
Born vp be loue groundid on stabilnesse,
Off auoutri ther sprang out non issu,
Pryncis be doctryne establisshed ther noblesse,
Preesthod in praier, knyhthod in worthynesse,
Ech thyng be lawe stood vnder gouernaunce,
Marchantis be mesour & iust peis off balaunce.
First Phoroneus be dilligent labour _[p. 183]
Fond out lawes, that kyng was off Argyues;
The Grekis studie he gilte with gret honour.
This poletik prynce, tauoide hem fro stryues,
His statutis kept[e] duryng al ther lyues,
Fond first the maner, Bochas doth deuyse,
How to Iubiter was maad sacrefise.
Eek myhti Mynos, whilom kyng off Crete,
Ordeyned lawes ageyn transgressiouns,
To fere bi rigour foolis that were onmeete,
And staunche off surfetis all occasiouns,
Make for robbours myhti strong prisouns;
And Dedalus, his cheeff artificer,
Made Labenntus be deligence entier.
And eek Mercurie, born be the flood of Nyle,
As writ Lactance, was off Egipt kyng,
Onto marchantis dede lawes first compile
Off weihte and mesour, to vs[e] in chaffaryng.
3153. for trouthe whet] quet H. 168. be] with R.
3172. First by 3175. taucide| auoyde R.
3182. a be H. 3183. ake] Made H.
3187. As And R actance] Bocbas H.
417
The lords
avoided aoe
tenance, and the
3152 gq clergy led lives
of perfection;
merchants did
not cheat;
knights sup~
ported truth,
3156
nor did women
paint their faces
or wear horned
bean and
ong trains
3160 Wise men and
scholars were
not looked down
upon and
flatterers were
never made
3164 confessors.
It was a golden
world borne up
by love and
just law.
3168
Phoroneus,
3172 king of Argos,
invented laws
and sacrifices
to Jupiter.
3176
Minos, king of
dained |
ordained laws
3180 against fools
and robbers,
3184
and Mercury,
king of Egypt,
legislated for
meinen ane
standardize
3188 their weights
and measures.
418 Solon, the great Lawgiver [BK. 111
And for his wisdam & excellent kunnyng,
Off olde poetis, that whilom wer so wise,
He callid was god off marchaundise. 3192
Solon. eq SOlon also the beste lawes made,
excelleat laws As writ Valeri, hymsilff to magnefie:
‘Se eae Athenyeln]ses theroff wer ful glade,
His gret[e] wisdam whan thei dede espie; 3196
Thei fond theryn so mochfe] policie.
And he was redi euer to debate
Ageyn tirantis, so sore he dede hem hate.
tycurguemade K yng Ligurgus eek whilom dede his cure 3200
swear to keep “To make lawes to comoun auauntage,
be wan avay os And that thei sholde perpetueli endure,
He made his peeple be sworn, off eueri age,
Whil that he wente out on pilgrymage, 3204
Fro poynt to poynt to keepe hem in certeyn,
Onto tyme that he cam hom ageyn.
and since his
ee ae ais And for his lawes wer off gret substaunce
usefuland .- ‘ind profitable to eueri comounte, 3208
preferred not He ches to lyue in exil and penaunce,
to return home
again, oo that Neuer to resorte ageyn to his contre,*
his statutes
might never be Lhat his statutis be eternyte
ee Sholde nat be broke, as ye han herd toforn, - 3212
Bi the convencioun to which that thei wer sworn.
Before he died To comoun profit had he such tendirnesse,
that his bones ‘That he forsook his kyngdam & kenreede
far out into [To] lyue in exill, his story berth witnesse. 3216
But or he deied, as he lay bedreede,
He bad his bonys sholde be cast in deede
Amyd the se, ferr out fro the stronde,
That his statutis myhte in ther strengthe stonde.3220
that there might FTe eschewed euerich occasioun,
for his subjecté As [a] thyng hatful which was nat fair,
their vow. § That his forsaid[e] roial myhti toun
Sholde breke ther oth because off his repair. 3224
But touchyng that, he put hem in despair,
Cast hym neuer resorten in ther dawes,
List thei wolde breke the sentence off his lawes.
3194. Valeri writ R. 3195. Athemeses R.
3198. euer he was redy for to R.
3200. Kyng] om. H — Licurgus P.
3210. his] this H — contre] cite B, J, R, cite H 5, citie P.
3219. from R, J, R 3, P, frome H.
BK, 111] A Chapter on dishonest Officials 419
q An exclamacioun of Bochas ageyn thextorsions
& oppressions of pe poraill of Rome.!
| hee BOCHAS heer makith a digressioun, 3228 Jonn Bochas
And bi rebukyng cast hym for tassaile g-buking the
Thilke officeres that wer in Rome toun, officials and
‘ ‘. ‘ ‘ judges of Italy
Which bextorsioun oppressid the poraile, — and Rome, who
e ° t
And ageyn tuges also off Itaile, 3232 poor. ;
A[nd] namli them, that for lucre & meede
Sett trouthe aside & took off it noon heede.
He maketh ageyn hem an exclamactoun, ieee a
Such as to vertu wer contrarious, $236 {heir postion to
. e licentious,
And vnder colour and occasioun like Appius,
Off ther office list to be lecherous, decisions and
; Sse : foul in their
Lik condiciowned onto Appius, lives.
And fynali, as it was afftir seene, 3240
Fals in ther domys & off ther liff oncleene.
O, quod Bochas, O trouthe, O thou Lustise, Tose .
Which in your noblesse whilom dede excell, pases ow.
Wher in effect is now your exercise? 244 ‘Where do they
Wher is your wonyng? alas, wher do ye duell? men can tell
. t
Off your practik ful fewe men can tell, practice:
So ferr put bak is now your disciplyne,
Your kyn exiled and your noble lyne! 3248
e e ae d
Aduocatis that now doon ocupie [p. 184] rivocatee
Your olde sees & placis ful roiall, onty, to talee:
8 : ‘ hood, and
Al to falsheed ther wittis thei applie, — judgments are
° who epen-
Such couetise now regneth ouer all! 3252 dent on will,
Causes off cyuyle & causes cremynall
Ther doomys take, wher thei be fals or trewe,
Al afftir will be statutis chaungid newe.
. oA , wh
Ther been eek other callid accessours, 3256. give count! 0
Sittyng be iuges to yeuen hem counsail, fei be call :
Which may ful weel be callid raueynours; raviners; their
° ° labour is all for
For thei nat laboure but for ther owne auail. their own profit.
A noumbre off robbours folwe at ther tail, 3260
To pile the peeple, as ye han herd toforn,
Bare as a sheep that is but newe shorn.
3233. &]or H, R.
3249. doon] doth R. 3253. &jJor R. 3259. for]om. R.
3260. ther] the R.
1 “Here Bochas makith an exclamacioun of the extorcioun of
the officers of Rome,” MS. J, leaf 75 verso.
420 The Story of Alcibiades (BK. 111
pvomore isto Ther is no mor in this mateer to seyne,
Ea char Sauff onli this: trouthe stant desolat, 3264
righteousness [And] mhtwisnesse to no wiht dar compleyne,
complain. With wrong oppressid, wepyng disconsolat.*
Wherfor, ye Pryncis, that sit in hih estat,
Such thyng tamende but ye bet heed list take, 3268
God shal with you a ful hard reknyng make.
pe rinces: if you Your office is in your magnyficence
these things, = “T'wen man and man all wronges to redresse,
a hard reckon- And wher a mateer is ageyn conscience, 3272
ing with you. e = :
It to refourme onli off rihtwisnesse;
To stonde be trouthe, meyntene no falsnesse,
And lete wis counseil such materes examyne
Or ye off haste theron* determyne. 3276
**He will reward
you as you Hath such thynges in your mynde among;
deserve!” Thynk God will quite lik as ye disserue.
Ye spotte your noblesse iff that ye do wrong,
His suerd off punshyng dredith or it kerue. 3280
Lat your resoun & conscience conserue
Your noble estatis, & thynk, lik your werkyng,
The Lord off you will axen a reknyng.
[Off Alcibiades exiled and aftir brent in his bedde. ] !
Mepis A other bat put hemsilf in pres, 3284
fairest of men, Tofor Bochas ther compleyztis to discure,
appeared
Bochas, He Cam off Athenys Alcibiades,
was strong,
wiee and That tyme a-lyue the fairest creature.
discreet were f And as it is remembred be scripture, 3288
peat He was discreet and wis at all assaies,
orator. And oon the strengest & manli in his dates.
He was first born off mht hih lynage,
Aboue all other off most semlynesse, 3292
Weel proporciowned and hardi off corage,
Loued & weel fauoured for his gret fairnesse,
Famous in knyhthod for his worthynesse,
Sotil wittid, and koude bi eloquence 3296
Moche comprehende vnder short sentence.
3265. to no wiht dar] dare nouth R.
3266. disconsolat] desolate R, & disconsolat B.
3275. such mateers wise cownsaile H, R 3.
3276. theron ] the trouthe B.
3290. And] om. R. 3292. semblynesse R.
1 MS. J. leaf 77 recto.
BK. II! | Alcibiades’ Cleverness in bis Youth 421
His witt enclyned to manyfold sciences, ge ealive
Hadde off kunnyng a passyng retentiff, eae
Loued clerkis, & fond hem ther despencis, 3300 learning; a
; ; : : patron of
Such as in practik he sauh most inuentiff. scholars and
To reede in bokis reioished al his liff, ng one/eould
Kepte what he radde in his memoriall, ni egies
And off wis counseil was noon to hym egall. 3304
An* vncle he hadde Icallid Pericles, * La ag
Which stood in daunger, off excessiff spendyng; on one
Yit in his youthe this Alcibiades, for exceeding
° on ° the amount
Seyng his vncle pensiff in lokyng, 3308 allowed him
Caste off wisdam to remedie that thyng; the temple of
And for tasswage his hertis heuynesse, howe
Gaff hym this counseil bi gret avisynesse: ee aid
First to reherse how the mateer stood, 3312
And off his vncles woful hih distresse.
Ther was to hym delyuered a summe off good,
To repare the temple off a goddesse
Callid Mynerua; but for the gret excesse 3316
Off his dispendyng*, he stood sumwhat in dreede
Touchyng thacounte, which he mut yilde in deede.
Alcibiades heerupon musyng, Se gia
To his vncle gaff counseil in sentence. S20
““Vncle,” quod he, “lat be al your thynkyng, pelled.”
And for yoursilff[e] shapeth this diffence,
Nat for tacounte — be mene off your prudence,
Aforn prouyded, with face & cheer onfeyned, 3324
To such duresse that ye be nat constreyned.”’
And whan Pericles* his counseil aduertisith, And Pericles,
following this
Fond to his worshep it was resonable; advice, took
And bi good leiser hymselff ful weel auysith, 3328 strange his
And bi prouysioun, prudent and notable, he finally
Saued his estat from ech thyng repreuable, rye cog
So that he stood[e], touchyng this mateer, Ses
As for acomptis out off al daunger. 3332
3305. An] And B —called R — Perioles B, R, H.
3312. the] this R. ;
3317. dispendyng] dispense B, dispensis R, dispencis J,
dispenses P.
3321. allom. R.
3326. whan] om. H — Perioles B, H, R.
3332. accowntis H.
422 The Story of Alcibiades’ Life [ BK. 111
Alcibiades = Alcibiades, off Athene cheeff capteyn, [p. 185]
Athenians both
Athenians both Fro day to day wex up to gret encres,
peace, and was Such another was ther nowher seyn,
admiral of their A
navy. Them to gouerne bothe in werre and pes.
And al the cite bi assent hym ches,
Off ther nauye in especial,
Vpon the se to been ther amyral.
As governor of For his knyhthod thei sent hym out a-ferre,
he made war on Off Cathenois to be ther gouernour,
yracuse, 4
Geyn Siracusanes for to gynne a werre.
First ther receyued with glorie* & gret honour,
But in the eende off his gret labour,
Fortune that is ay variant & onstable,
Was to this duc nat founde fauourable.
Ladle He was accusid to them off the toun,
treason and | Which in Athenys hadde gouernaunce,
his offices. § That he was gilti in parti off tresoun.
Bi them reuoked, for al his gret puissaunce
Off capteynship, and bi ther ordynaunce
And Fortunys fals mutabilite,
Onwarli pryued from al dignyte.
He then went’ But for hymsilff[e] thus he gan prouide,
into voluntary
exile to save Wente into exil nat ferr fro that cuntre
his life; for the
Athenians Into a* cite that callid was Elide,
desired to offer
up his head to | her for to ha[ue] fredam and liberte,
their gods. = And off his liff to stonde in surete;
For in Athen thei wolde haue hym ded,
Onto ther goddis to offren vp his hed.
Soon afterwards But whan he was off ther entent certeyn,
peace To Lacedemoyn he took the niht[e] way,
through the ~~ And be relacioun ther he herde seyn,
misadventure of
three captains. How Thathenyenses wer put at affray
In a bataile vpon a certyen day,
Which that thei heeld, to ther aduersite,
Geyn Cathenois, as thei fauht on the se.
abe Athenians But the cause off this disconfiture,
defeated at sea As was told to Alcibiades,
y the
Cataneans. | Was bi thre capteyns, thoruh ther mysauenture,
Which in ther ledyng wer founde rech[el]les.
3333. Albiciades of Athenes H.
3334. to gret 15 repeated in R. 43. 8 eloire B.
3355. nat] and R. 3356. Into ss nt
3336
3340
3344
3348
3352
3356
3360
3364
3368
ER
es ————— 1g -
ee eee ee
—
BK. 111 | The Story of Alcibiades’ Life
The cheeff off them named Demostenes,
The tother callid, the stori tellith* vs,
The ton Niceas, the tother Eurilocus.
Alcibiades, hauyng heeroff tidyng,
Tauenge his wrong put hymselff in pres;
Off Lacedemoyn he goth first to the kyng,
Which off trouthe was callid Agides,
Besechyng hym to graunte to his encres
Certeyn soudiours out off his cuntre,
For to werreie Athenes* the cite.
Thus he wex strong, off noble prouidence,
Hadde gret peeple vnder his gouernaunce,
And lik a duk, maad strong in his diffence
Be peeple gadred to his obeisaunce,
That other pryncis, which wer off hih puissaunce,
Gan haue envie, off wilful frowardnesse,
And to maligne ageyn his hih noblesse.
For seelde or neuer in any regioun,
Prowesse off armys, noblesse off cheualrie,
Encres in richesse, report off hih renoun,
Fame off kunnyng in crafft or in clergie
May nowher duelle withoute sum envie,
From whos malice, as folk expert mai see,
Sauf onli wrechis no man hath liberte.
For which this prynce, as put is in memorie,
Escapid nat, for al his hih parage,
But that summe envied at his glorie;
For in this liff no man hath auauntage
Ageyn tunges nor odious fals language.
To stoppe such venym, this the beste obstacle,
That men with suffraunce tempre ther triacle.
The cleer prowesse off Alcibiades
Steyned the noblesse off other pryncis all;
His eure hym reised up to so gret encres,
To the hiest throne off Fortunys hall.
Such fatal grace is onto hym fall,
Domestenes R.
tellith] techith B.
Eurilocus] Lamachus P.
ral om. H.
Athenes] Athenos B, Athenois R.
Be] The R
3372.
3373-
3374-
3377-
3381.
3385.
3389.
423
3372
So, in order to
avenge his
3376 wrong, Alci-
biades besou
on Athens.
3380
Thus he grew
strong, and was
envied because
of aN : ey
and high re-
3384 nown, as always
happens; for no
man is free
from the slander
of venomous
tongues.
3388
3392
3396
His clear
Proms shad-
owed the
3404 nobility of all
other princes;
no one equalled
him in knight-
hood.
Tbis stanza is marked with a scravol of approval in margin, J.
424 The Story of Alcibiades’ Life [ BK. III
That in tho daies, pleynli this no fable, 3408
Ther was in knyhthod noon to hym resemblable.
Seponed In his exil so cleer his renoun shon,
sought to eclipse And thoruh Grece gaff as gret brihtnesse
by false report Ag doth a rubi aboue ech other ston: 3412
Yit for teclipse & shadwe his worthynesse,
Lacedemonois dede ther besynesse,
Such as myhte nat* to his noblesse atteyne,
Bi fals report his renoun to restreyne. 3416
and laid trap», Await was leid to take* hym at myscheff, _[p. 186]
unawares and And rhany treynys wer serchid out & souht,
ring him to
cui but Ee Off entent taput hym at repreeff.
eeeape But al that euer ageyn hym thei ha[ue] wrouht, 3420
At the eende ther purpos cam to nouht;
For God prouydeth off his magnyficence
Ageyn such malice to sauen innocence.
although hie =Ffe was likli tafalle in gret daunger, 3424
eanty ia * Lacedemonois gan at hym so disdeyne
Because his honour & noblesse shon so cleer,
That to his fon it was a dedli peyne.
And thus his liff stood in noun certeyne; 3428
For al-be-it he manli was and wis,
He knew nothyng ther purpos nor malice.
Tohis =. He hadde almost iwarned be* to late,
hehad |. And lik tastonde in gret perplexite. 3432
with the queen, And mor his grace & fortune to abate,
who warned
him of his | Bi thoccasioun off his gret beute,
enemies and
advised hin He with the queen was wexen ful pryue;
tg ee For in hir grace so weel stood ther non, 3436
he rook 20 Which gaff hym warnyng off them that wer his fon.
And bi the counsail onli off the queen,
Fro Lacedemoyn he wisli took his fliht
Toward Athenys, & thouhte he wolde seen 3440
His owne cuntre, ful lik a manli knyht.
And thouh thei hadde nat gouerned hem a-niht
3408. thisis R. 3409. 1n knyhthod was noon H
3415. nat myhte B, R, J.
4417. totake]tatake B. 3418. wer] om. R.
3.420. sei geyn R. 3421. ther] the R.
3424. tafalle] to fall R, H, J, R3, P
3425. t5 misplaced at end of stanza; correction indicated, H.
3428. no certeyn R 3, no certaine P. 3430. nor] & H.
3431. be] bien B,benH5. 3437. the wy other R
3440. thouhte]} thouh R. 3442. thouh] thouht 7
EE ROPES EEE, PITTI ncaa, eee REIT
FD ~~ ET rns ene,“ cesta et PUTT ORT ete ae, po
uty”
——_
EEE - Ee wr
omy
BK. IIT] The Story of Alcibiades’ Life
Towardis hym, beyng 1n distresse,
Tauenge his wrong he dede hem no duresse.
For he thouhte it was ageyn nature,
To be vengable or shewe his cruelte
Bi thoccasioun off any auenture,
Or gynne a werre vpon his curtre;
His natiff blood meued hym to pite,
And off verrai natural ientilesse
Was debonaire geyn ther onkynd[e]nesse.
The cas was this, for short conclusioun,
How kyng Darie with gret apparaile
Thouhte to werreie, off indignaciouz,
Them off Athenys and ther toun tassaile.
And in his purpos proudli to preuaile,
Thesiffernes, a prynce off gret puissaunce,
Off Daries* power hadde al the gouernaunce.
Fynal cause and ground off al this werre,
That Darfus gan on hem so hastili,
And that he sente his puissaunce fro so ferre
For to destroie Athenys vttirli,
Was to hold up and sustene the parti
Off Lacedemoyn, which off old hatreede
Wer euer envious them for toppresse in deede.
But be mene off Alcibiades,
And bi his trete foundid on prudence,
Thesiffernes enclyned to the pes,
Therbi in parti tappese his violence.
And al was doon off noble prouidence,
And fro the place to which he was exilid,
He to Athenys sholde be reconciled.
Onto the cite he dede signefie
How Darius hadde maad his ordenaunce,
And bi his lettris he gan them specifie,
Yiff thei wolde stonde at his gouernaunce,
To condescende, pleynli in substaunce,
He wolde laboure, and no lenger tarie,
To make accord atwen hem & kyng Darie.
3443. beyn | seoondiyng & i 3444. duresse] distresse R.
5»
3451. geyn
3455. tassaile assaile H. 3456. his] om. R.
3467. his} this R. 3469. tappese in ‘party R.
3473. me this R. 3479. atwen] tween R
425
for he did not
believe it right
to make war on
his own country.
3448
At that time
3452 Darius was
preparing to
attack
Athenians
3456
in aid of
Sparta;
3460
3464
but with the
help of Alci-
biades, peace
depo Aisa
y the Persian
3468 gencral Tissa-
phernes, on
condition that
the Athenians
would do as
Alcibiades told
em.
3472
3476
426 The Story of Alcibiades’ Life [ BK. III
In the city the This was the mene that he mente: - 3480
2 to have full Withynze Athenys that the senatours
Sholde off the cite, afftir ther entente,
Ha[ue] fulli lordshipe, and be ther gouernours.
But as cleer wethir troublid is with shours, 3484
Riht so vnwarli, withynne that roial toun,
Thoruh this trete fill a discencioun.
but the com- ‘The comowneris gan sodenli disdeyne
rac halon To be so thrallid vnder subieccioun; 3488
biades to restore And so bassent the comouns dede ordeyne,
Onli tappese al fals discencioun,
For to reuoke ageyn into ther toun
Alcibiades, as thei thouhte it meete, 3492
Thoruh his prudence to sette hem in quyete.
He wae mace, First in his komyng, myn auctour doth reporte,
supported the He was maad duk ageyn off that cite,
scoute fed, And gan the parti off comouns to supporte, 3496
And them restore to ther old liberte.
Wherthuruh the senat, dredyng the comourte,
Fledde into exil ful ferr out off al pres,
Onli for dreed off Alcibiades. 3500
and the people Thei stood that tyme in so gret disioynt, _[p. 187]
to the point ‘Ther toun deuided and out of gouernaunce,
of yi ng nad
towa to the That thei wer brouht euene onto the poynt
= To yolde the cite vnto thobeissance 3504
Of Lacedemoyn, thoruh ther vnhappi chaunce,
Withynne hemsilff[e] whan thei gan debate,
Vnto ther duk the senat bar such hate.
Euicn ‘by the’ But the comouns ches in ther diffence 3508
commons at __ Alcibiades to gouerne that viage.
steed And to the se, with cost & gret dispence,
the sea Withoute abood he holdeth his passage
In myhti shippis maad for auauntage, 3512
Weel enarmyd, & caste, yif he myhte,
With Lacedemonios proudli for to fihte.
3486. this] his R—a]at R.
al] as R.
3490. a
3496. the] that R.
3499. into] in H — ful] om. H.
3503. onto] to R.
3504. To]
a H—the] ther H.
3507. Vnto] Vndir R.
3510. dispence] expence R.
3513. enarmyd] armed R— &] om. H.
- tt
BK. lI! ] The Story of Alcibiades’ Life 427
Thre myhti capteyns wern on the tother side, rotary deny
The first[e] Zestro, Bochas tellith thus, 3516 yptains,
And the second that was ther lord & guide Mindarus and
Callid Midare, the thridde Pharbanasus, aa
On se and lond in armys ful pompous.
But of his knihthod and magnanymyte 3520
Alcibiades took hem all[e] thre.
Strong was the fiht or that thei wer[e] take, and costroyed
Of al ther meyne awey ther scaped non;
The duk that day gan swich a slauhtre make = 3524
Of hih prowesse vpon his mortal foon,
Cast ouerboord almost euerichon,
And aftir that, whan he cam to londe,
A newe bataille met hym on the stronde, 3528
Swich wait was leid aboute hym enviroun iat age pr acho
Of his enmyes be sodeyn auenture. the enemy.
But of Athenys this myhti champioun,
Which myhte in armys most souereynli endure, 3532
Made on his foon a [newe] disconfiture.
Thus in short tyme this prince in his estaat
On lond and se was twies laureat.
And aftir that, he list nat for to cesse $636 coe tre
Nor tabide the space off halff a day: and. recaptures
The comouz profht of his toun tencresse, seep ire
Toward Asie he took the riht[e] way, Athens
And touns, castellis that wer take away, 3540
Which apertened to Athenys of riht,
He gat ageyn, ful lik a manli kniht. |
Maugre all that to hym wer contrarye, ane prcuent
Or wrouhte ageyn hym be rebelliouz, 3544 tants again to
Thoruhout [al] Asie in the land of Darie
He knihtli brouht hem to subiecciouz,
Ageyn whos swerd halp no proteccioun.
And fynal labour was off his entente, 3548
The comoun profhit off his toun taugmente.
3515. Thre] The H.
3517. ther] be H.
3518. Midarus P, Pharbanazus P.
3520. and] and of his R
3523. non] nat oon H.
3532. myhte] m hey R.
3535. se] watir R » J, R3, watyr H 5, water P.
3541. tojof R.
3546. tojin R.
428
Returning to
Athens, he
was received
with joy and
great honour.
The people
cried, “Wel-
come, victorious
prince, our pro-
tector and
shield against
all violence.”
By their strange
praise they
made him an
equal of the
gods,
and hallowed
certain days ia
honour of his
rowess, until
Forte blinded
his eyes with
prosperity.
When he
thought he
st highest
in her favour
she brought
misfortune on
his people.
The Story of Alcibiades’ Life [BK. 111
And with this glorie and with this hih noblesse
He to Athenys repeired is ageyn;
And al the cite, with ioie & gret gladnesse,
Cam out to meete hym upon a wol fair pleyn.
And that his triumphes sholde openli be seyn,
Bothe old & yong, with ful glad visages,
Of ther goddis brouht out the images.
This was the[r] cry & noise of al the pres:
*‘ Victorious prince, whos triumphes marciall
Shal euer be songe with loude and newe encres
Tofor the goddis, which been inmortall,
Wolkome, wolkome! our protectour, our wall,
Sheeld of our weelfare ageyn al violence,
Phebus of knihthod, & swerd of our diffence!”
Thus with ther goddis thei maden hym egall
Bi vnkouth praisyng of paganysme rihtis,
Lik as he hadde be verray inmortall,
And sang refreites to comende his merites.
Tenhaunce his glorie* thei sette al ther delites,
And with the liht[e] of eternal fame,
Sette up torchis tenlumyne with his name.
Thus certeyn daies thei halwed of entent,
Thoruh [al] the cite for his hih prowesse,
Til Fortune hath his eyen blent
With newe fauour of worldli fals suetnesse.
For al hir* sugir is meynt with bittirnesse, —
A bait of hony, shad out at pryme face,
With mortall venym hid vndir to manace.
For in his hiest clymbyng up aloffte,
And in thascence of Fortunys wheel,
Aftir hir custum, as she hath ful ofte,
Whazn he best wende for tastonde weel,
She drouh hir fauour from hym euerideel,
Made the peeple vndir his obeissaunce
To falle in myscheeff for lak of gouernaunce.
3557. the] ther R.
3560, 66. Immortall H.
3565. paganismes R.
3567. refrectis H.
3568. And tenhaunce R, P — gloire B —sette] om. H.
3575. ped ther B.
3576. at] of R.
3581. for to astonde R.
3552
3556
3564
3568
3572
3576
3580
3584
@
e &
e
e
BK. Ill] The Story of Aeibietia “ Etfe.
te, A 198]
Thus fro this* duk Fortune gan to varie,
And his noblesse go bak & eek faille,
Whan kyng Cirus, successour to Darie,
Ful vnwarli fill on hym in bataille,
And gan his knihtis proudli to assaille,
Whan he dispurveied, void of prouidence,
Was ouerleid to make resistence.
For fynalli this Alcibiades
At myscheeff take, which he myhte nat recure,
Whan thoruh veynglori he was maad rek[e]les
His noble estat testablisshe & assure.
Lak of forsiht caused his disconfiture;
And to encres of mor aduersite,
Ban[y]shed ageyn out of his cite.
Thus diffacid and clipsed was his glorie,
His cite put in straunge gouernaunce
Be Lacedemonoys aftir ther victorie,
So that he knew no maner cheuisaunce
To refourme his vnhappi chaunce,
-Sauf for refut, myn auctour doth reherse,
How that he fledde onto the kyng of Perse.
From Athenys of newe he was exilled;
And thretti personys, furious & vengable,
Chose in that cite, as Bochas hath compiled,
The toun gouerned, al-be thei wer nat able,
Vsyng a maner hatful and repreuable,
Thoruh ther rauyne temporisshe ther cite,
A thyng most odious to eueri comounte.
A werm of dreed was bred up in ther herte,
Which suffred nat them to lyue in pes,
Among themsilff[e] whan thei dide aduerte
The grete prudence of Alcibiades,
How in manhod he was pereles,
List he wold aftir, for al ther multitude,
Knihtli aquite ther ingratitude.
And of assent tabreggen his lyff daies,
Thei ageyn hym of malis han conspired,
Afftir his exil, to maken no dellaies
3585. this] the B 3591. ouer ladde R.
Ld
ee ®@
3588
3592
3596
3600
3604
3608
3612
3616
3620
429
Made reckless
-by vainglory,
he was
“defeastd by
King Cyrus,
and again
banished from
Athens.
He fled for
refuge to the
king of Persia,
and Athens was
then governed
7 the Thirty
yrants, who
impoverished
the city chrouge
their gr
They began to
fear Alcibiades,
lest afterwards
he should
repay their
ineratitude in
kind,
and conspired to
murder him
after his exile.
3596. discomfiture H. 3604. for] ae R. 3606. of] om. H.
3608. that]ther R. 3611. ther] be H
3619. aquite] aquiete R.
430 he Death of Alcibiades [ BK. III
Fos-Yacomplisshe that thei long han desired,
_ «With brennyng hate ther hertis falsh fired, 3624
_ “« T'o moordre benvie, causeles ageyn [al] niht,
Poets Alcibiades, the noble worthi kniht.
". Fhterthe day Thus the tyme approchid and the date,
. approached. Term afforn set be constellacioun 3628
provide Of his parodie and his lyuys fate,
false con- Which was concludid, as maad is mencioun,
es Bi cruel moordre to his destruccioun.
Alas, what prince, with gold or soudiours, 3632
May hym prouide geyn fals conspiratours!
Hewes rae Fortune of newe gan at hym enchace;
place to place, From hir treynys that he nat scape myhte,
nally tel pos Daili pursuede fro place ay onto place, _ 3636
and burned Thoruh Perse and Mede, thouh he wer out of siht.
im in his bed- TS) that his enmyes fill on hym be nihte,
Slepyng, alas, to soone thei wer sped:
Whan thei hym fond, thei brente hym in his bed. 3640
It wat too = Thus be moordre ther purpos* was acheuyd, —
areas Alas, it was to horrible a deede,
knight to be So good a kniht, so weel in armys preuyd,
taken in his °
bed and con So renommede, so famous in manheede, 3644
sumed by frel FO to be brent among the coles rede!
First vnwarli in his bed Itake,
And so consumyd among the smokes blake.
Bete ma This was the eende of Alcibiades, 3648
be fey ee Which in knihthod was most souereyne;
ings to
che secs of In werre a leoun, and a lamb in pes,
As Mars victorious, his fate so dide ordeyne.
To famys paleis he fley with wynges tweyne, = 3652
Sone to Mynerva, to speke of hih prudence,
And lik Mercurie be notable elloquence.
@ An exclamacion of pe deth of Alcibiades.*
did pou Bind FATAL sustren, which span the lyues threede
Bima te pare oa So short a terme; whi dide ye determyne 3656
He who had. To suffre hym brenne among the coles rede?
lived so short
a term! Ye wer to hasti to breken and ontwyne
3624. ther] the H — falsli] fully R.
3629. and] andof R, H. 3635. From] For R —nat] na R.
3641. purpos ther moordre, correction indicated B.
3647. smokes] coles R. 3652. flelh R.
1 “Here Bochas makith an exclamacious vpon the deth of
Alcibiades,” MS. J. leaf 78 recto.
BK. Nir] An Enooy on Alcibiades
431
His web of knihtehod, that thoruh the world* dide
shyne,
And caste of noblesse his bemys out most cleer;
Alas, that euere he fill in your daungeer!
O, out on Stix, and out on Attropos,
That han of malis slayn so good a kniht!
3660
[p. 189] Out on Styx
and out on
Ofre ak
Out
Out on you thre, that keepe your-silff so cloos, 3664 © three d ce daughters
Douhtres Icallid of the dirke niht!
And thou, Letum, that queyntest eek the liht
Of Alcibiades, merour & lanterne,
Nigh! Out on
you, Lethe!
To speke in knihthod how men sholde gouerne, 3668
Ye slen the worthi, & wrechchis ye doon spare!
Torcites lyueth, Ector is slayn in deede,
Your funeral smokis makp rewmys now so bare,
Torace vp* cedris, ther braunchis may nat spreede,
Ye palle the laurer, ye make the firses seede.
Ful litil thank in kyngdamys ye disserue,
Kaitiffs to fostre, and do the worthi sterue!
Alicibiades is passed into fate,
Liht of knihthod lith clipsed in the shade;
The Parchas sustren to soone sette his date,
Of hih noblesse to make the laurer fade.
Lacedemonoys* of his deth wer glade,
Funeral fyr his bodi hath deffied,
For hih prowesse his soule stellefied.
[ q] Lenvoye.
At*> this tragedie doth myn herte bleede,
Mi penne quake of routhe & of pite,
In my writyng whan that I tak heede,
To seen the straunge feerful dyuersite
Of al worldli vnseur felicite,
How from ther sees, shortli to comprehende,
Froward Fortune doth princis doun descende.
Alcibiades, of corage & of manheede,
As is rehersid in bookis ye* may see,
Of gentilesse and of goodliheede,
3659. thoruh the world] the word thoruh B.
3660. bemys] om. H (space left).
3662. O] om
You slay the
worthy and
are wretches.
our funereal
smokes lay
ms Aneolate
3672 fostering
caitiffs an
letting the
worthy die.
passed into
ate; the Parce
allowed him to
die too soon;
but the Spar-
tans were glad.
3680
367
Alas,
heart bleeds
when I see
3684 | ow insecure is
ed world’s
felicity.
3688
Alcibiades,
most famous of
oodness and
oa pouty
2 prudence an
369 magnanimity,
. R, P—2nd out] om. R — Antropos H, Atrapos
P, Attrapos J.
3666. Lehi P. 3667. And H. 3672. vp] out B.
3677. lich] lyhe R. 3680. Lacedemoyns B.
3681. dified H, R. 3691. ye] as ye B, H.
432 The Covetousness of worldly People [ BK. III
Of semlynesse, of fredam & bourte,
Of hih prudence and magnanymyte
Was most famous, as auctours hym comende,
Yit from his seete Fortune made hym descende. 3696
governing _ Al the peeple, bothe of Perse and Mede,
yet when at f
the height of And al that wern rebel to his contre, 3700
his glory ° .
Fortune made He chastised hem in ther most cruelte.
him dcecen¢ xc, But whan his fame gan hiest up tascende,
Doun from hir* wheel Fortune made hym descende.
Moordre and tresoun with pretence freendliheed,3704
Outward fair cheer, couert iniquite,
Plesaunce in speche, & vndir that falsheed,
Hony shad out, sharp tailled lik a bee,
Song of Syrenes to drowne men in the se, 3708
In oon combyned, ther malis can extende
To cause princis doun from ther sees descende.
Noble Princess Noble Pryncis, that seen so moche and reede,
eth ae Remembryng stories of antiquite, 3712
remember in Afforn prouidyng that tresoun nat proceede,
rosperity . ° °
that he who Beth ay most dreedful in [hih] prosperite,
ite high :
is most ready to Lat othris fallyng a merour to you bee.
efeae The tourn of Fortune al auctours reprehende, 3716
Wher who sit hiest is rediest to descende.
q A Chapitle of wordly folk wich desire to be magni-
fied.!
beng Aas FFT[ER] this processe, yif ye list to lere,
al oer Cnet Lich as Iohn Bochas maketh mencioun,
and to climb That worldli folk most souereyzli desire 3720
up to the . ° °
highest place in To haue in lordshipe gret exaltacioun,
wealth and
"cputation. And up to clymbe in ther entencioun
Of worldli worshepe* to the hiest place,
Al erthli tresour attonys to enbrace. 3724
3703. hir] his B.
3704. pretence] pretence of H, pretensed P. In MS. J, margin
(78 recto) opposite this stanza, “a notable verity], eortiten
an a seventeenth century band.
3721. lordshipe] worshipp H.
3723. worshepe | worshepes B, R 3, princis H.
1 “Here Bochas writeth ageyn the desires of the people,” MS.
J. leaf 78 recto.
BK. I11 The Covetousness of worldly People 433
The feruent flawme of ther gredi desir{e]s sacs ree
In mekil gadryng fynt no suffisance; pee ene
Ther hungri etik kyndeleth so the fires ike che thine
Of auarice be long contynuaunce, 3728 the more they
That her thrust of worldli habundaunce fiercer their
On Tantalus ryuer abraideth euer in oon, poke ibe
Drownid in drynkyng, & deeme ther part is non. pester tig :
Car o1 an e
Ther may no tresour ther dropesie weel staunche; 3732
The mor thei drynke the mor thei thruste in deede.
In Thagus floodis the depper that thei launche,
The gretter drynesse doth in ther brestes* breede.
The hier water, an ebbe most thei dreede; 3736
Fals indigence ther herte hath so confoundid,
At fullest sees thei seeme ther barge is groundid.
Few men are
Thus ech man wolde to gret richesse atteyne; [p. 190] Gene with
With sufhisaunce but fewe hold hem content; — 3740 cnoush._ The
Who most haboundeth, now rathest wil compleyne plain moe
For lak of good — alas. how thei be blent! and yet it may
Wher shal ther gadryng, wher shal ther good be spent? Sone alli
Sum oon par cas* shal hem therof discharge, 3744 thecrand spent
Whom thei most hate, & spende it out at large. ona
Withynne a bodi, but* litil of stature, ceca
Corages growe up to gret magnificence, It seems to
Which up tascende do ther besi cure, 3748 lapenuld inipait
And in ther clymbyng & transitorie assence, poner they.
Hauyng an hope of worldli apparence, ok ea
Lich as nothyng ther puissaunce myht trouble, double.
Nothyng aduertyng how that Fortune is double. 3752
Summe set ther ioie in conquest and in werris, Some 4/6 toe
Tenbrace al erthe vndir ther puissaunce, oa
Lik as thei myhte reche aboue the sterris, reach above
2 the stars; but
To brynge doun heuene vnto ther obeissaunce. 3756 if their power
r4 . ° were ri
But yif ther poweer wer peised in ballaunce, weighed they
And countirweied a-mht in ther memorye, aye aaa
Thei sholde weel fynde that al is but veynglorie. phat ce tick
Vicious com-
What may auaille hem ther fethirbeddis softe, 3760 panions avail
Shetis of Reynys, longe, large & wide, aes
3727- pungri] gredy H. 3735. brestes] hertis B — breede]
3740. hold them but fewe R. 3744. par on parchas B.
ioie} lo
3746. but] ful B, J. 3753. yes H
3756. vnto] to R. 3761. reynes R, Reyns H. é
434 A Chapter in Praise of industrious Men [BK. UI
Duyers deuises or clothes chaunged ofte,
Or vicious mene walking be ther side, —
Void of vertu, ambicious in ther pride, 3764
Which causeth princis, be report of swich fame,
For ther mysleuyng to han an heuy name.
For their
For their _, And thus for lak of vertuous dilligence,
ee Thoruh fals luxure and froward idilnesse, 3768
and. sustaining And upon flatereris thoutragous expence,
jars,
will not sufer Support of wrong oppressyng rihtwisnesse,
them to last °
long. Wher lesyngmongeres haue an interesse,
Whom to susteene whan princis do per cure, 3772
God wil nat suffre that thei shal long endure.
The office of
pincers wo Offfise of princis is to supporte riht,
maintain right, His suerd of knihthod fro wrongis to restreyne,
aoe cpptess the The poore releuyng, toppresse hem nat with myht, 3776
temper _ His olde seruauntes weel preved nat disdeyne,
ven e ° e e
mey His hasti rigour and his vengaunce sodeyne
Lat’merci tempre, to doom or he proceede,
And God shal quite hym whaz he hath most neede. 3780
q A Chapitle of men doing Such thing as pey be
dispo[sjed to.!
apes a YN auctour Bochas makth a rchersaile,
pasy avail more In eschewyng of froward idilnesse,
industry. Each
badstery, pee That onto vertu may [no thyng] mor auaile
do that for ‘Than* dilligent labour and honest bisynesse; 3784
which he has
miest tiene” And so concludyng, ful pleynli doth expresse,
Ech man reioyssheth (this sentence is nat glosid)
To doon swich thyng to whiche he [is] disposid.
Some work in Summe ha[ue] ioie be heuenli influence 3788
or prove them- To knowe the cours aboue celestiall;
selves in war-
like deeds, aod And summe of knihthod do ther dilligence
others rejoice é . ‘ °
in eloquence or To preue themsilff in* actis marciall.
st e se e
ephy gad”~6©0 And summme reioisshe, in ther entent fynall, 3793
a In elloquence, summe in philosophie,
Summe, aboue all, to stodie in poetrie.
763. mene] meyny P.
3768. luxury H. pt Thoffice H. 379- he] ye H.
3
3783. nothyng] om. H 5 — may no thyng] nought may P.
3784. Than] Good B, R, J, H5. _3787. to whiche] as R.
3790. do]jtodoR. 3791. in} be B. 3793. 2nd in] &in H.
1 “Here Iohn Bochas spekith ageyn Idelnesse reef how
sum men haue [oie in o science and sum in anothir,’ M leaf
78 verso.
BK. IIT | In Praise of industrious Men 435
The hardi kniht is seruaunt to Seynt George, rae eaten
Meuyng of planetis sercheth thastronomeer, 3796 George; the
Martis smyth laboureth in his forge, searches the
Harneis of steel mak[e]th tharmoreer; pines ae
But the deuisour, be dilligence entieer, qiven hacicuss
Be fressh contreuyng, out of the old entaille 3800 *
Fynt newe deuises of plate & eek of maille.
The laboreer set hooli his plesaunce Eger
To tilthe of lond in tyme to sowe his greyn, yeaa
Tencrese his seed be yeerli habundaunce, 3804 of their nature
And that his plouh laboure nat in veyn, solitary.
Castyng his sesouns of drouht & eek of reyn;
And poetis to sitte in ther librarie
Desire of nature, and to be solitarie. 3808
Swich as men loue, such thyng bei vndirtake: they wae
Fissh or foule or hunte with ther houndis; Pak yee
Summe of wolle sondri clothes make; "to be tailors
Be philisophre[s] was founde out first be groundis, 3812 but arson eit
And of al studie thei sette out first be boundis, Se eae:
Caused poetes, pleynli to conclude,
Out of al pres to lyue in solitude.
Logiciens delite* in argumentis, [P. 191] 3816 Garciane
Philisophres in vertuous lyuyng, eas aa
And legistris, folwyng the[r] ententis, virtuous life,
Gretli reioisshe in lucre and* wynnyng. hysicians in
Phececiens trauaile for getyng;* 3820 and pocts ia
And of poetis, this the sotil fourme, tune be ee
Be newe invencioun thynges to transfourme. invention.
Poetis sholde esche[w] al idilnesse, seeder
Walke be ryuers and wellis cristallyne, 3824 springs an
To hih mounteyns a-morwe ther cours up dresse, — mountains at
sunrise; they
The mist deffied whan Phebus first doth shyne, should study
e e e ‘ ~ d
Studie in bookis of moral disciplyne, ee Pe
Nothyng coueite, but sette ther entent, 3828 moderate food.
With moderat foode for to be content.
3797. Marcis R.
3798. Harneis] hands H. 3808. and] om. H.
3809. Swich] Suche R, H.
3810. huate] huntyng H, to honten R, to hunten J.
3816. delite} delite hem B.
3818. fol folwen H — ther] the J, H 5, R.
3819. and] and in B, H, R3, Hs.
3820. getyng] wynnyng B. 3825. up] om. R.
436 A Chapter on Poets [ BK. III
heir chief = Ther cheeff labour is vicis to repreve
reprove vices With a maner couert symylitude,
not to
rudely offensive And non estat with ther langage greeve 3832
or to injure é
men, but Bi no rebukyng of termys dul and rude;
ways
conclude with What-euer thei write, on vertu ay conclude,
Moor. Appeire no man in no maner wise:
This thofhise of poetis that be wise. 3836
q A chapitle of pe gouernance of Poetis.
pore hous descryue the disposicioun
es pel ae Of al poetis be old ordynaunce, —
world and live —Thei shold be quieet fro worldli mocioun,
according to
their means and And it sequestre out of ther remembraunce, 3840
y e tu rt
of princely” Fare compotent vnto ther sustenaunce,
Pree Drynk wyn among* to quike ther dilligence,
Support of princis to fynde hem ther dispence.
They have’ ~~ For thei that lakke lond & pocessioun, 3844
neither land
nor wealth; . And can of lucre no maner cheuisaunce,
arte ae Ther coffres void, ther purs turnid up-so-doun,
fail in countee And wante vitaille to fynde hem in substaunce,
support of Lher corage dullith, thei faile contenaunce,— 3848
rinces is the
est recompense What mihte beste ther sorwes recompence?
of their sorrows. Support of princis to fynde hem ther dispence.
Pords have .,. Lordis in erthe ha[ue] domynacioun;
power, church-
pies eee Men of the cherche of gold haue habundaunce; 3852
merchants are The kniht get good[e] thoruh his hih renoun;
look out for Marchauntis with wynnyng ha[ue] souereyn aqueyn-
themselves,
but poor poets taunce:
ee But [poor] poetis (God sheeld hem fro myschaunce!)
ay now-adaies for ther impotence, 3856
For lakke of support go begge ther dispence.
Dante, Virgil, Daunt in Itaille, Virgile in Rome toun,
Petrarch,
Chaucer, — all Petrak in Florence hadde al his plesaunce,
prospered; for
they had the And prudent Chaucer in Brutis Albioun 3860
support of ‘ : .
princes. Lik his desir fond vertuous suffisance,
Fredam of lordshepe weied in ther ballaunce,
Because thei flourede in wisdam and science,
Support of princis fond hem ther dispence. 3864
3831. ajlom. R. ; ae
3857. hae chapter (lines 3837-3871) 15 omitted in H, R, J,
5, N3
3842. among] competent B. R
3855. poor ts supplied from MSS. R 2,H 3, Hq.
BK. III] Machaus, Duke of Carthage 437
O welle of fredam, enclyne thyn eris doun, Senay,
And of thi bounte yiue sum attendaunce, snipes
To heere of merci my supplicacioun, my, suppli-
: cation;
In releuyng of myn hertis greuaunce; 3868 oppressed with
Oppressid with pouert, & kan no purueiaunce, through thy
Sauff to resorte to thi magnificence, ouly can Tf
Onli be support to fynde me my dispence! Moog
[How Malleus Duk of Cartage for oppressioun
tirannye was hewen in to pecys. |!
WEN Bochas hadde rehersid of poetis, 3872 Bene nd
i i is. John Lyd
Ther straunge studie & ther soleyn writyngis, Joho Lydgate)
a
And ther desirs of solitarie seetis, poets and their
* ° desire to live
In plesaunt placis to make ther duellyngis, alone in pleas-
; ant sur-
Beside ryuers & holsum welle spryngis, 3876 roundings, he
Which acomplisshed, he gan his penne auaunce, cteat pace
Pryncis off Affrik to putte in remembraunce. SEK:
And whil he dede his besi dilligence_ Moots
Ther pitous fallis to putte in memorie, 3880 of Carthage,
First ther cam tweyne vnto his presence, bis son, “
. ° in Al
Ther old noblesse appallid & ther glorie, preweuce,
Which, as hym sempte, withyne a teritorie
O[f] Affrik boundis, longyng to Cartage, 3884
Dide first appeere, most dedli of visage.
The ton of hem was named Malleus, ene
Duk of Cartage, of Affrik lord and sire. gutrageous con-
. : uct and sought
His sone also callid Cartalus, 3888 revenge.
Whilom cheef prince & bisshop eek of Tire.
But Malleus, which heeld the gret empire
Of al Affrik, for his pompous outrage
Exilled was for euere out of Cartage. 3892
Which caused hym in herte he was nat murye, [p. 192] Baiginganarmy
But ay remembnid upon his fel banshyng, feelred ie
Gadred his peeple withynze the lond of Surrye, Carthage in
And in the feeld, whil he lay hosteieng, 3896 enemies.
Cast hym fulli to make no tarieng,
But in al haste, of knihtli fel corage,
Maugre his enmyes resorte onto Cartage.
3879. his] this R.
3882. er eae H. 3886, 90. Manlyus H, Macheus P.
3894. uponjonH. 3898. al] al be fi.
1 MS. J. leaf 79 recto.
438 Macheus, Duke of Carthage [ BK. I
He sent for bit Tauenge his exil his herte was set affire, 3900
Prince, <4 vce, And his entent[e] mor to fortefe,
to, come an " He sente in haste his lettres doun to Tire,
p him with
all the chivalry To Cartalus, that he sholde hym hie,
but as it was And brynge with hym al the cheualrie 3904
oem te time Of his cite, in steel armyd cleene,
Carclct pre. His fadres parti to holde up and susteene.
ferred to offend
his father But whan this bisshop knew hooli the maneer
neglect the Of this purpos, which ye han herd deuise, 3908
He considred how that tyme of the yeer
Ordeyned was to do sacrefise,
Aftir the rihtis of ther paynym wise,
To Hercules, which in that cite 3012
Aboue al goddis hadde the souereynte.
Whos feeste was holde space of certeyn daies,
Which for to halwe he needis must entende,
And bi the custum make no dellaies, 3916
But that he muste therto condescende.
sl eeli And leuer he hadde his fader to offende,
As in swich caas, than thoruh neccligence
Vnto his goddis for to doon offence. 3920
Wherof his fader hadde indignacioun,
The caas arettyng to vnkyndenesse,
And therof kauhte a gret occasioun
Ageyn his sone, of froward wilfulnesse: 3924
For princis ofte, of furious hastynesse,
Wil cachche a qu[a]rel, causeles in sentence, *
Ageyn folk absent, thouh ther be non offence.
ane ccomors And summe tunges venymous of nature, 3928
matters ae,
ee ., Whan thei parceyue that a prince is mevid,
more baneful “T’'agregge his* ire do ther besi cure,
hateful violence With fals langage to maken hym mor grevid.
d
of slander. But ther is no poisoun so weel expert nor previd 3932
As is of tunges the hatful violence,
The fettive\ hop Namli whan princis list* yiue hem audience.
tp his father The feeste acomplisshed of myhti Hercules,
re toto Al innocent of double or fals meenyng, 3036
change his The said[e] bisshop, of wil nat rek[e]les,
3903. Tartalus J. 3908. & H. 3911. wise] guyse H.
3914. was] wast R. 3917. therto lg to H. :
3925. ana nH. 3930. his] ther 3934. list] wil B.
3936. Al] An R.
BK. II! ] The Tyranny of Macheus
Kam to his fader withoute mor tarieng,
Chaungid nouther habit nor clothyng,
With al thensignes, & in the same wise
As he toforn hadde doon his sacrefise.
Anon his fader made no delay,
Withoute excus, it wolde be no bet,
Of hasti rancour, the silue same day
Maad hym been hangid upon an hih gibet.
Lawe an[d] iustise wer bothe aside set,
And tiranye, most furious & wood,
To do vengaunce in trouthis place stood.
Who can or may tirauntes wil descryue,
Whos marcial suerdis be whet ay for vengaunce?
Ther bloodi thrustis doth thoruh ther hertes ryue,
439
3940
But on the
same day his
father had him
ha on a
3944 sibbet.
3948
Who can
describe the
will of tyrants,
— their furious
poy their pale
< smiling and
Ther eris ay open to heere of sum myschaunce, 3952 laughter of false
: hatred!
Ther furious merthe, ther mortal wood plesaunce,
Ther pale smylyng, ther lauhtre of fals hatreede,
Concludeth euere upon sum cruel deede.
Thei been mynistris to Parchas sustren thre,
Tuntwyne the threedis of folkis heer mortal,
And verray cosyns, thoruh hasti cruelte,
Vnto the woode Furies infernall,
Children to Pluto, of vengaunce marciall,
Which for ther vices, but thei bere hem weel,
Shal tourne in helle on Ixiones wheel.
Thus Malleus, fader most vnkynde,
Lik swich a tirant shad out his cruelte,
As ye han herd; and aftir, as I fynde,
Of furious herte and of old enmyte,
Be force is entrid Cartage the cite,
And slouh al tho in his hatful ire,
That hym afforn had exiled into Tire.
Wrouhte aftir wil and nothyng aftir niht,
Gan robbe and spoille that noble famous toun, .
Which made hym hatid in the peeplis siht
For his outrage and gret extorsioun,
Hauyng no ioie nor consolacioun
- hisJom. R. 3949. wil] weel R.
, praca rst £ trustys H s, thristis R 3.
3960. Childre R, H. 3963.
. 2ndofjom.R. 3967. of Cartage R.
- affornj] om. H. 3972. peeple R.
anleus H, Macheus P.
Ministers of the
3956 Parc, cousins
the Furies,
children of
Pluto, they will
turn in hell on
Ixion’s wheel
for their vices.
3960
Thus
eee first
ew his son,
3964 and then
entering Car-
thage murdered
all those who
had caused his
exile.
3968
by the people,
3972 Whom it was his
joy to oppress.
3973. For] for by
440 The Fate of Machaus the Tyrant (BK. 111
Withynze his herte, pleynli, nor gladnesse,
Sauf lik a tiraunt the peeple to oppresse. 3976
They bewailed The peeple of Cartage sore gan to pleyne _[p. 193]
tune; and ° ;
Hecke ce thar ¥ PON ther mischeeff and desolacioun.
the lordship of And Bochas writ, rehersyng in certeyne,
climb up fast. Wil is a stepmooder of witt & of resoun; 3980
to riches
through pillage And wher that princis ha{ue] domynacioun,
og ** ~=And bi fals pillage to richesse clymbe up faste, —
Trusteth riht weel, ther lordshipe may nat laste.
Their wealth and
worldly a? Ther grete poweer of worldli excellence, 3084
a hem if siey Nor ther acrochyng of temporal richesse,
to them if
are rants tr Whan thei be tirauntes, may stonde in no diffence,
love of a well- And froward willfle] reuleth ther hihnesse.
onseren PP’ For what is lordshipe, pleynli to expresse, 3988
In this world* heer, yif it be discernid ? —
Loue of the peeple whan thei be weel gouernid.
oppeaon For tirannye and fals oppressioun
oppression
engender hatred; Causeth princis to stonde in gret hatreede. 3992
and when th
ae ceate to And what is worth ther domynacioun,
him, a
prince is but Withoute loue lat preue it at a neede?
a e
masmon- Men for a tyme may suffre hem weel & dreede;
But whan that dreed constreyned 1s & goone, 3906
Than is a prince but a man allone.
Machzus is. seeth an exaumple how Malleus of Cartage,
a example;
fot Goaly the For al his castellis & tour[e]s maad of stonis,
tore him in ~~ For his oppressioun, vengaunce and outrage, 4000
: The peeple of Affrik ros on hym al attonys,
And hew assonder his flessh & eek his bonys,
Caste hem pleynli, on hym thei wer so wood,
Vnto ther goddis to offren up his blood. 4004
thought teat The peeple dempte, of mortal cruelte,*
no offering was
ee eee Ther was non offryng so plesaunt nor couenable
to thet god Vnto ther goddis to plese ther deite,
of tyrants. | As blood of tirantes, which that be vengable. — 4008
Thus cruel princis make the peeple vnstable
Of necessite, which ouhte be compleyned,
To wreke ther wrongis that thei be constreyned.
3977. pleyne] compleyn R. 3983. mht] 7
3984. abe The H. 398s. Nor] To R. oan world ]
wor
3994. it] om. H. 3997. aman but R. 3998. Manlyus H.
4005. cruelte] equite
BK. 111}
Loo, heer the eende of Malleus the tiraunt,
Which doth to princis ful weel exemplefie,
To God aboue how it is nat plesaunt
Them to delite in no swich robbene,
Nor pile the peeple be no fals tirannye,
Nor for no talis be hasti of vengaunce;
For al swich thyng to God is displesaunce.
q Lenvoye.
AD and considred, this saide tragedie
Sheweth to princis a merour ful notable,
How thei ther rigour shal tempre & modefie
Or thei proceede for to be vengable:
For in a prince it is riht comendable,
Rancour of herte, of cheer & of corage
For to differre til that ther ire aswage.
Ther hasti* ire, [ther] sodeyn malencolie,
The[r] colerik fumys, ther furie vnrestreynable,
Ther vnqueynt fires with awme of tirannye,
Ther fretyng etik of hate incomparable,
Lik bestial tigres, lik leouns vntretable,
Ne wil nat suffre ther infernal rage
Differre ther doomys til ther ire asswage.
The roial leoun, of mortal gent{[e]rie,
Among beestis of force incomparable,
Preueth nat his poweer nor his regalie
Geyn beestis prostrat, which be nat defensable.
And myhti princis sholde, in caas semblable,
For innocentes take merci in morgage,
Respityng rigour til ther ire asswage.
Ther sparcle of vengaunce is quiked in partie
Be wyndis foure, fell and abhomynable:
Blast of detraccioun, & blast of flaterie,
Blast of fals rowneris, that forge many a fable,
And blast of bribours, most vicious & coupable,
Manlyus H. 4016. fals] om. H.
4012.
An Envoy on the Vice of Tyranny
44!
The fate of
4012 Macheus
shews that God
This y
teaches that
princes shou
temper their
rigour.
4020
4024
In their hasty
anger and un-
restrained fury
and hate they
4028 are like tigers.
4032
The lion does
not prove his
might on de-
fenceless
creatures.
Princes should
4036 follow his
example.
Detraction,
4940 flattery, deceit,
and extortion
fan the flame
of their rage.
4044
4026. hasti and sodeyn are transposed B — 1st Ther] The H.
4027. 1st Ther] The H, R 3 — 2nd ther] the J, be H.
4029. etik] fretyk R. 4030. intretable R.
4031. ther] that R.
4034. beestis] al beestis H. 8. Innocence H.
blast] bast R — coulpable R,
442 The Fate of Himilco, Duke of Carthage (BK. pI
With smoki sclaundris & felenous fals visage,
Causeth ire of pryncis that it may neuer aswage.
beware ef tying, FOr which lat princis, of noble policie
poorear dia Bewar of tungis double and deceyuable, 4048
Which with ther venym infect ech companye,
Ther poynaunt poisoun is so penetrable;
To folk absent it is myscheuable,
So deepe fretith ther serpentyn langage, 4052
Causyng in princis ther ire may neuer asswage.
noble Princes, Noble Pryncis, lat vertu magnefie
fy your Your hih estatis to make you merciable; :
aad make you For moral Senec doth clerli specefie, 4056
The throne of princis be clemence is maad stable.
Vengaunce delaied, to God is agreable;
And hasti rigour doth outragous damage,
Whan humble requestis your ire may nat aswage. 4060
[How the substaunce of the host of himilcho duke
of Cartage goyng to conquere Cicile died of
pestilens & aftir himsilf slayn. ] !
ee Caahice acs AS FTIR these noble myhti princis tweyne, [p.194]
a Next in ordre, with pale & ded visage,
Toforn Iohn Bochas Himilcho gan compleyne
Thunhappi fall of his fatal passage, 4064
Whan he was sent bauctorite of Cartage
To conquere, thoruh his myhti puissaunce,
The lond of Cecile vnto ther obeissance.
qhe Carthagioy Thei of Cartage hadde an oppynyoun, acts
fdcipe That it was leeful, aftir ther entente,
ceedings were Withoute title of riht or of resoun,
lawful;
Ther teritories & boundis to aumente.
And for that cause Hymylco thei* sent, 4072
The mihti duk, ther noblesse to auaunce,
Which off Cartage hadde hool the gouernaunce.
so their duke set And for he muste passen bi the se
with a great © “Toward Cecile, this noble worthi kniht, 4076
With hym he lad[dJe a ful gret enarme
. felenous] felons J. 53. ther] bat H.
a hymiliche R, Amilco t. 4071. taugment R.
4072. cause] cas H— thei] forth was B.
4076. this] the R — worthy noble H.
IMS. J. leaf 79 verso.
BK. 11] The Wickedness of Hanno, Duke of Carthage 443
Chose out of Cartage, in steel armyd briht,
Ther foon to conquere of verray force & myht.
But Fortune gan at hym so disdeyne, 4080
That to his purpos he neuer myht atteyne.
Ground & gynnyng of his destruccioun, apibshioe es
To be remembrid shortli in sentence, — ae et ato
Ther fil of thair a gret corupcioun, 4084 rd ai
Which that caused a ful gret pestilence
Among his meyne, be vnwar violence,
And sodeyn myscheef that is upon hym fall, —
He loste almost his worthi knihtis all. 4088
Nih al his peeple was slayn in that moreyn, and; fetuening
That with a fewe beleft of his meyne, cro a
Infortunat he turnede is ageyn slain by bis
Hom to Cartage; and thei of the cite, 4092 ae
Al causeles, of hasti cruelte,
Hath slayn ther duk, as Bochas doth compile.
Loo, who may truste Fortune any while!
[How heynon duc of Cartage was dismembrid. ] '
FFTIR whos deth anon ber gan succeede — 4096 Gannon duke of
A mihti duk pat callid was Haynouz, a
Which purposed for to chaunge in deede
His name of duk, bi fals ambiciouz,
And to be callid thoruhout the myhti tou, 4100
Kyng of Cartage; and therupon of pride
To fynde out weies he felli gan prouyde.
He was nat content a duk men sholde hym calle, 0742?” sueht
But of Cartage for to be namyd kyng, 7h Wise a
And lik his purpos that it sholde falle,
Fro day to day the menys compassyng,
How he myht fulfille this vnkout[h] thyng,
For to be crownid an[d] regnen in that lond. 4108
And atte laste this mene weie he fond:
4085. that] om. R.
4091. turnede] turny H.
4094. ther] this R.
4097. Hannon P
4100. the] that R.
4108. crownid] crowned kyng R.
1 MS. J. leaf 80 recto
444 Hanno’s Plot to potson the Senators (BK. 111
Me had snter He hadde a douhtir yonge & tendir of age,
nom he in, Which of the peeple stood in gret fauour;
in marriage to And he hym caste to yiue hir in mariage 4tt2
the son of a : *
senator, To a yong kniht,* sone of a senatour,
Which in the cite was a gret gouernour.
And that his purpos myhte been atteyned,
Day of the mariage & tyme was ordeyned. 4116
and arranged for
ane arrange’ And in his paleis, cheeff and princepal,
royal banquet, This saide duk leet make his ordenaunce
To holde a feeste ful solempne & roial,
And with gret costis made his purueiaunce 4120
Of sondry deyntes, which that in substaunce
Wer necessarie in alle maner thyng
Vnto the feeste of a worthi kyng.
ened al'the He gaf in charge vnto his purueiours, 4124
eeaatore, That al wer redi ageyn a certeyn day;
And tq his feeste cam al the senatours
Duellyng in Cartage; ther durste no man* sey nay.
And of his purpos to make no delay, 4128
Thouh his fraude was nat apparceyued,
He caste that day summe sholde be deceyued.
m ing to e e e
poiton g.0,, He conceyued in his inward entent,
ce)
tor he knew He ta be kyng and regnen in Cartage; 4132
would never The senatour[e]s wolde neuer assente
consent to make
him king. To chaunge ther custum nor ther old vsage.
He durste theroff vttre no langage,
Kepte hym secre withoute noise or soun, 4136
And fulli caste hym to proceede bi tresoun.
The nexte weie, he knew no bettir reed
To his desir, than pleynli to ordeyne
That of Cartage the senatours wer ded; 4140
Than wer he likli his purpos to atteyne
For to be crownid lord and souereyne,
So tacomplysshe his luste in alle thyng,
And in Cartage to regne as lord & kyng. 4144
4113. kniht]akniht B. 4114. gret] om. R.
4119. holde] helde R. ;
4iz1. Of] & H. __sg2g. nj aR.
4126. feeste] festis H.
4127. no man] non B, R, J, H 5, R 3.
4130. that day that R.
4133. neuer nat H.
4139. pan to his desire pleynly H.
4142. For] om. H.
vo”
~ aot
BK. 111} Hanno’s Plan miscarries
For yif the senat wer uttirli destroied, [p.
He sholde fynde no maner resistence,
Wherbi his purpos sholde been encloied,
Nor dur sei nay to his magnificence;
For in the poraille ther was no diffence.*
And at this feeste he caste hym to proceede
Al his entent[e] to conclude in deede.
His officeris he made to be sworn
To helpe destroie falsli be poisoun
The senatours, of whom I spak toforn,
And that ther vitaille & deyntes in foisoun,
And eek ther wynes, for short conclusioun,
Sholde with venym been intoxicat,
Thoruh al the paleis, & spare non estat.
These officeres hadde a conscience
For tacomplisshe so horrible a thyng;
And secreli vnder gret prouidence
To the senat thei gaff therof warnyng.
And whan thei knew this mortal compassyng
Off duk Haynoun, teschewen al affray,
Thei putte the weddyng of prudence in delay.
Wherof this duk gan haue suspecioun,
And of this mateer fill in a maner dreede;
Thouhte he wolde bi sum collusioun
Ageyn Cartage mor mortalli proceede,
And gan calle to helpe hym in his neede
Of Mauritayne a kyng of gret renoun,
With hym bi force to falle upon the toun.
Made hym promys, to his auauntage, *
For to make free destribucioun
Of [che] richessis, tresour and pillage, *
Which that he myht fynde* in the toun.
For vttir fyn of his entencioun
Was to destroie, of wilfu[l] cruelte,
The famous Cartage, the myhti strong cite.
445
Once th
I 95] date teaee: hers
be.
poate
ony A
4148 wishes.
He informed
4152 his servants of
his intention
and instructed
them to put
ison in the
ood and wine;
4156
but their con-
oe forbade
to do
4160 t such a horrible
thing, and they
warned the
senators,
4164
who caused the
wedding to be
ela
Hanno became
suspicious an
4168 allied himself
with the king of
Mauretania,
4172
promising him
a share of the
pillage of the
town,
4176
4148. dare H.
4149. diffence] difference B.
4150. this] the R.
415s. that] om. H — in foisoun] infuson R, bi foisoun H.
4161. secretly H.
4173. auauntages B, R, H, H f
4175. richesse = pillage] pillages B, J, P, H 5, H, R, R 3.
4176. myht fynde] fyndeb B
446 Hanno 1s bewn in Pieces [ BK. m1
- and strengthen- Cf a] the thrallis in the toun duellyng, 4180
ing his forces
wre the rifral’ And swich as wer[e] born of louh lynage,
tired to he To strengthe his parti, this was his werkyng:
He made hem alle, bi mortal fals outrage,
Withynze the myhti castell of Cartage 4184
To keepe hem cloos, of malis & envie
Ageyn the cite hymsilff to fortefie.
But it wasallin But al for nouht: the myhti senatours
vain:
senate held the 1
senate bed ne Therof wer ware,* and of hih prudence 4188
sais in checks Ageyn* his malis and al his fals robbours
Hanno and his Thei made hem strong, and thoruh ther prouidence,
ae In especial tordeyne a diffence,
First on ther parti to lette the komyng 4192
Of Mauritayne the stronge cruel kyng.
And of assent thei list[e] nat dellaye,
But roos attonys, and bi gret ordenaunce
Ther false duk to venquisshe and outraie, 4196
Hym and his cherlis thei brouhte to vttraunce,
Fill upon hym with a gret puissaunce,
And fynalli, proceedyng off resoun,
This was his doom, bauys of al the toun: 4200
Neprmenteand First, of this duk as it is remembrid,
hewed him in Fle was dispoilled, his doublet eek vnlacid,
Ioynt fro ioynt hewen and dismembnid,
And from his hed his eyen out atraced. 4204
And riht as he hadde afforn compassid
To haue destroied his owne myhti toun,
As ye han herd, [he] resceyued his guerdoun.
g Lenvoye.
Thus these two ‘ . ;
rich and mighty HIS tragedie doth pitousli compleyne, 4208
Paes ele And maketh a maner lamentacioun
slain. e one
without cause, Of thes riche myhti princis tweyne,
Slayn in Cartage, as maad is mencioun.
Causeles the ton,* sauf bi thoccasioun, 4212
That pestilence in his froward viage
Slouh al his peeple, that wer born in Cartage.
4188. We ware ye R, J.
4189. Geyn ‘J. 4197. chorlis R, Chorlis H.
4205. asa rn as he had H. 4210. myhti riche R.
4212. ton] toun B, J, towne (om. the) R.
BK. 111 A Chapter on Covetousness 447
Fortune also gan frowardli disdeyne fone
Ageyn this riche mihti duk Haynoun, 4216 deceit.
Whan he of malis gan mortalli ordeyne
The senatours to moordren of his toun,
At his feeste bi crafft of fals poisoun,
As ye han herd. rehersid his outrage. 4220
He was ageynward dismembrid in Cartage.
Who doth vengaunce, vengaunce shal atteyne, ee wall
In ech estaat, withoute excepcioun, reap vengeance,
And who of pite vengaunce doth restreyne, 4224 restrains his
He shal of merci resceyue the guerdoun: shall receive
mercy’s reward
For mht requereth, of trouthe & of resoun,
Cruel princis shal haue for ther wage
Deth, lik this duk, dismembrid in Cartage. 4228
Noble Princis, doth your besi peyne [p. 196] Noble Princes,
For to preserue fro rebellioun to co beep the
The comoun peeple, which stant in noun certeyne, people fom
With eueri wynd turnyng up-so-doun. 4232
Afftir Fortune thei chaunge affeccioun,
Turnyng ther hertis with trist or glad visage,
Lik as the peeple dide whilom in Cartage.
q Thauctour a-geyn couetous Peple.!
ATURE bat is content witb litil thyng, 4236 S47 4
The wise, war, be circumspect goddesse, Tatars empress
Which vader God in heuen aboue regnyng, and mother of
This world to gouerne is callid themperesse, up treasures in
Mooder of richessis, the first founderesse, 4240"
Which cerchid out bi hir artificeres
The straunge tresours hid in the myneres.
This noble ladi, this princesse most famous,
Knowyng of man thunkouth condiciouns, 4244 Covetousness
Sauh bexperience richessis wer noious, —
In hym teclipse the disposiciouns,
And conveie his inclynaciouns
Bi a wrong weie vertu to sette aside, 4248
How couetise was a ful pereilous guide.
4221. He] And H.
4234. or} & R.
4238. above in hevene H. 4239. This] The R.
4247. conveie] conveyne R. 4249. perlious R.
1 The same beading in J, 80 verso.
She knew the
evils of
448 A Chapter on Covetousness [ BK. 111
od Nene, For auarise, to al vertu contraire,
are incited to “The gredi werm, the serpent vnstaunchable,
earth for treas- Man to be-traisshe with promyses debonaire, 4252
At prime face soote and agreable,
Tauht hym of nature bi craft most deceyuable,
Thoruh sotil serchyng, as it wer for the nonys,
First out of erthe to delue precious stonis. 4256
sought fer and’ Of riche myneris thei serche the entrailles,
ships with their T'o fynde out metallis for worldli auauntages,
Ld e e e e
vet ou Contryued shippis with ther brode sailles
’ Bi dyuers sees to make ther passages. 4260
And couetise ordeyned first viages,
Caused princis ride 1n londis ferre,
Ech ageyn other for to gynne a werre.
psoas Off auarice gan first thes robberies, 4264
clea robbery, Await of brigauntis and al extort pillages,
extortion Moordre, slauhtre & couert briberies,
Of old contreuid, furious fel damages,
Wrouht and acheuid in al maner ages. 4268
Now in thes daies, lat set it at a preeff,
Fals couetise caused al swich myscheeff.
spring from She was first roote of fals extorsioun,
To spoile the peeple, mooder of rauyne, 4272
And sterere up* of oppressioun:
To take bi force, this was hir doctrine.
And as myn auctour doth pleynli determyne
And concludeth in ful pitous wise, 4276
Roote of al euil is fals couetise.
enue «She was eek norice of contek & of striff,
arihaal ae es Maistresse of moordre and wilful violence,
rebellion and ~=Maad men to tuparte boodi, good & lyff, 4280
of realms. Caused discencioun and disobedience,
Gruchchyng of comouns, withdrauht of reuerence,
Bi rigerous constreynt sodeyn rebelliouns,
Rumour in rewmys, unwar subuersiouns. 4284
4250. to] is to.
4252. promyses] promysse R.
4257. myneris ] mines P — serche] serche out H, R, J.
4264. thes]the R. 4265. pillagies R.
4273. up] first B, H5,R3,H. (The reading in R, R 2, and
Sloane ts up).
4278. wasjis R, J.
BK. 111} A Chapter on Covetousness 449
This froward dragoun ful of idropesie, There is no
: ogfedy
Whos fretyng etik ther may no plente feede, thirst, though it
To staunche his thrust ther is no remedie: floods with
Tantalus or ye
The mor he drynketh, the mor he hath ay neede; 4288 in Midar’ wel
And the mor tresour, the mor he stant in dreede,
With Tantalus thouh he swymme in the floodis,
In Migdas well pleyneth for lak of goodis.
This werm eek causeth that men in ther richesse 4292 !t ¢2u*s, me®
to fear thieves
Haue dreed of theuys a-nyht in ther wakyng; and te Ata at
And yif thei heere on coffre, bed or presse, anal cr atutes
Cat, rat or mous, or any werm meuyng, to stand ever
in despair and
He weneth anon, withynze hymsilf deemyng, — 4206 dread lest their
That ther wer kome, with gret apparaille, enema
Sum vnkouth pilour his tresour to assaille. they mowt
The woful soule stondeth euere in dreede, wealthh
And ay abideth in labour & trauaille, 4300
And of the goodis, which he doth posseede,
Fallith* in dispeir list thei wolde hym faille.
Tween hope and dreed ther is swich a bataille,
Thoruh entermynyng® ech other to confounde, 4304
To be most gredi whan thei most habounde.
Hope vnassurid with dreed[e] disespeired [p. 197] 20?*,*8¢...,
Meetyng in hertes make a ful mortal werre. sea eget
Whan hope presumeth, with dreed he is appeired, 4308 Hope becomes
And lik a coward makith hym stonde aferre,
Dul of his cheer as is a cloudi sterre,
Which dar nat shewe the liht of his tresour,
But euer tencrece set hooli his labour. 4312
He thar nat touche thyng that he loueth most,* —2°_gaving t
His cofres cloos be shet so vndir keye, weal he loves
Thouh he hath mekil, he makth therof no bost, Mise gad
Lest for his tresour men wolde hym werreie, — 4316 poverty lest he
Pleyneth for neede, lik as he wolde deie,
4285. dropesye R, hidropsie P.
4287. his thrust his thrust this thrust R.
4291. eae idas P — well] wellis H, welth P.
4293. wak walkyng R.
4302. Fallith ror B.
4303. a] om.
4304. ewe Vann DE B, (entermynyng J, en-
tyrmenyn entremynyng R, entirmynyng H, R 3, in-
termining
4306. deeied, R.
4307. Meetyng] meevyng
4313. thar] dar R, H tbh best B. 4315. have H.
450 A Chapter on Covetousness
Feyneth fals pouert to sparen his dispence,
Oppressyng plente with froward indigence.
Though hie And thouh his chestis happid be with gold,
heaped wh = With iren barris faste shet & closid,
rules his house- F'als scarsete gouerneth his houshold,
That be non excesse he is nat vndisposid,
His indigent herte so streihtli 1s enosid
To Herebus heir; and yit weel wers in deede,
In grettest richesse to compleyne vpon neede.
bound to Lis Herebus hath of iren, nat of ston,
Erebus, in ae For auarice bilt a foul cite,
turns Ixion’s ” Wher-as the wheel tourneth off Ixion
*° Vindir the boundis of Thesiphone,
Sisyphue la bours Wher Zeziphus may neuer a day go fre,
ewe me But with his ston contynuelli trauaileth,
And the mor besi, his labour lest aaailech:
Thus auarice, to ve[r]tu most contrarie,
Fouxde among vices ful contagious,
Euer bisi the restles ston to karie,
Now up, now doun, with weri Zeziphus,
Whos endles labour braideth on Theseus,
Which heeld the bridel of frutles bisynesse,
Condempned in helle to lyue in idilnesse.
Charon is the Off couetise the cruel maryner
of covetousnest, T's callid C[h]aron, whiche with Flegonte,
who sails th
flood of Acheron. Bj many a streiht & many fel daungeer
Sailleth in the floodis of furious Acheronte,
Vnder that dirked and cloudi orizonte,
Wher auarice ches whilom nigardshipe
For tresoureer his cofres for to keepe.
The labour of First to declare the labour in gadryng
covetous men in
gathering wealth,O)f coueitous men, as it is in deede,
their fear for
ite safety, and And countirpeise how ther streiht keepyng
1
when they must Is euer meynt with importable dreede,
leave it re
are the three SOrwe at departyng, for ther mortal meede,
an Which may be callid, of trouthe & equite,
Of Cerberus the wakir hedis thre.
4320. maar agin H, ha » happed R, J, heped P.
4324. enosid R, enoisid 4326. ou P,
4330. theophone R. 4331. Sfaoh
4334. Thus] This H. 4337. ip) ep vp a R.
4342. Phlegonte P. 4343. fel” a fell H
[ BK. Ir
4320
4324
4332
4352
BK. III | A Chapter on Covetousness
The firste hed 1s vnstaunchable desir
Off worldli goodis gret richessis to atteyne,
The mor encres, the hatter is the fyr;
The seconde hed is the dreedful peyne,
Which in keepyng, his herte doth constreyne;
Vnwar departyng, that sodenli doth falle,
Is the thridde hed, that greueth most of all.
This waker werm, that berth these hedis thre,
Is callid the werm of gredi couetise,
Whos bisi constreynt, restles perplexite
Troublep the soule in ful furious wise.
Which froward monstre, pleynli to deuise,
Braideth on Idra, of whom poetis seyn,
On hed kit of, ther growe thre ageyn.
Euere at the tail of plente and richesse
Of custum folweth gruchchyng & envie;
For he that hath of tresour gret richesse
Is seelde glad, as for his partie.
Thus bothe tweyne stonde in iupartie:
The riche with plente halt hym nat appaied,
And the nedi with pouert is affraied.
And yit in pouert is ful gret sekirnesse,
Which is a tresour that no man wil assaille.
And as myn auctour Bochas berth witnesse,
Amyclates among[es] the poraille
Leued in pes, seur from al bataille,
Heeld hym content with swich as God hym sente,
Whan riche wer armyd & to the werre wente.
Vertuous pouert stant euer in sekir caas,
To wach his hous [he] hath ful litil neede;
But proude Pompeie assegid in Duras,
For feer of Iulius stood in gret[e] dreede.
But peeplis rude take heerof non heede,—
Swich as reioysshe hem for to sheede blood,
In straunge werris wrongli to gete good.
Stories olde ful weel reherse kunze
Diuers studies of folkis heer mortal,
First how Diogenes was content in his tonne,
In which he made his loggyng pryncepal,
4356. richesse R. 4379. Amiclas P.
4383. sekir] secre R. 4384. ful] but R 3, P.
4391. folk R, folke P. :
4st
4356
4360
And the
serpent that
bears these
three heads is
the monster of
4364 eae
covetousness,
who troubles
the soul and is
like the Hydra.
4368
Behind wealth
follows envy.
e man
is seldom glad.
4372
And yet, io
4376 poverty is great
security.
Amyclas lived
in peace amon
the poor, while
the rich were
armed and
4380 went forth to
war.
Proud Pompey,
besieged by
84 Cesar, lived
43°4 in great fear;
but ru
Diogenes was
[p. 198] more content
in his tun
me rien
wi is over
4392 flowing coffers;
452 A Chapter on Covetousness (BK. 111
And sauh the cours aboue celestial,
Lyued gladdere amonges philisophres,
Than kyng Cresus, with al his stuffed coffres.
and, for all his
aie And yiff men wolde onto mynde call
Sardanapalas | The grete myscheuys folwyng on habundance,
end. Sophodius, And thynk[e] also how Sardanapall,
who Da ut e
a garden of For al his tresour, kam [un]to myschaunce,
always glad and And how Sophodius, porest in substaunce,
witnou
witout fear of Hadde but a gardyn ful of leekis greene,
And riht nouht ellis hymseluen to susteene.
This philisophre was euer glad & liht;
Ther was no wach maad aboute his tourfe]s.
Ful seurli slept he al the longe niht,
Hauyng no dreed of theuys ne robbour{e]s.
In somer walkyng among the fressh[e] flour[e]s,
And in cold wyntir, ful myrili & ofte
On drye strauh he lay and slepte softe.
cleared a Cyncynatus, a poore laboreer,
itches lor a
gitches for 2, Fowede dikes to gete his sustenaunce,
with little, | Wiuthoute gruchchyng, euere glad of cheer
nature was his
guide. Bothe in his port & in his contenaunce,
Dempte he hadde as moche suffisance
To his plesaunce, as Cresus kyng of Lide;
Content with litil; Nature was his* guyde.
sererty, tie Chis poore man, in his pouert assurid,
eart was at =With litil foode, & clothes but a fewe,
ease. He di
not care to live Hadde hertis ese & gladsum pes recurid;
ond his
means. It liked hym nat ouer his hed to hewe.
Which thyng conceyued cleerli doth us shewe,
That toious pouert conueied with gladnesse,
Gruchchyng auoided, surmounteth al richesse.
And if people And yif that folk koude considre a-riht
considered what
they endure for Ther pitous sihhes, ther thouhtful bisynesses,
wealth, they
would ‘also Ther woful labours, ther litil slep aniht,
transitory is all Which thei endure for worldli fals richessis,
carthly power: And of thabidyng, the dreedful sekirnessis, —
4399. Sardnapalle R.
4400. unto] to R.
4410. softe | full soffte R, ful softe J, H 5, ful soft P.
4396
4400
4408
4416
4424
4428
4412. Fowede] Made P — his] om. H. itt. his] hir B.
4424. auoided | avoyed R — surmountyng
peer’ thouhtful] rouhtfull R.
4428. fals worldly R.
BK. III | A Chapter on Covetousness 453
Which thynges peised and callid to memorie:
Al erthli poweer is double & transitorie.
And bi stories, which that be credible, 4432 No worldly
is abiding;
To preue ther poweer is nat abidyng, Minise, king,
But, at a poynt, slydyng and fallible: and hid himeelf
Whilom Masmyssa of Munydie kyng, for fear of
That was so mihti, bi record of writyng, Ub nee ci
For feer of Siphax, onli his liff to saue, oe
Fledde into mounteyns & hidde hym in a caue. epee Ae inal
And ther* he fond[e] but ful smal vitaille, ae
Constreyned narwe of indigence & neede, 4440
Whan other deyntes, in myscheeff, gan hy faille,
He gadred rootis and eet hem in his dreede;
Eek proude Xerses kyng of Perse and Mede
Drank blood and water to staunche his gredi
thrust, 4444
Dreed and trauaille gaff hym so gret a lust.
Although, as
Yit summe men wolde seyn, of auenture ti ge ae
Thei wer compellid ageyn ther volunte, say, their
Thes kynges tweyne, swich myscheeff to endure, 4448 '° Forced ‘pon
. : em by chance,
Maugre ther willle], of necessite;
For casuel chauns rafft hem ther liberte,
So that the rigour off this* sodeyn rage
Cam in be constreynt, and of no corage. 4452
But for al that, folk in ther pouerte splat asad le
On grete metis that hemseluen feede pre on costes
Ben also strong, as hool and fair to see, strong and
And also lusti preuid at a neede, 4456 ee au
Vpriht of lymes ther iournes for to speede, ane Anam
As long lyued, the cause to expresse,
Ts onli this: thei do non excesse.
To* poore men the beste medecyne abo fron thes
Is due labour with moderat abstynence, and ee
Good hair in feeldis whan Phebus list to* shyne, fields. “They
Voidyng dirke mystis that cause pestilence; physicians or
apothecaries.
Of heuy stomak thei feele no violence, 4464
4430. thyng R.
4435. Masinissa P— Munedy H, Numydye R 3, Numidy P.
4439. ther] thus B.
4446. men] om. H — seyn] fayne R
4448. myscheeff ] om. R. 3. “45h this] ther B.
4455. as]om. RJ ejto R.
4460. To The B— J Ase:
4462. list to] doth B— bats om. H.
454 Evagoras, King of Cyprus [ BK. 111
Thei nat enriche lechis nor poticaries,*
Themsilff to saue with vnkouth letuaries.
sable to all But folkis riche werkyn the contrarie,
sorts of diseases; ‘Which in hem causeth malladies stronge; 4468
meals and live For ther diet[e] eueri day thei varie
y lives.
With dyuers metis, and ther sittyng longe.
And with al this, ther appetitis wronge,
Take out of tyme, which thei may nat endure, 4472
Which bi custum oppressith ther nature.
toutharee. And thus myn auctour, shoitli to deuise, —_[p. 199]
erty borne with Seith how glad pouert stant most in sekirnesse.
contentment 1
most secure, andAnd of al euel, he seith, how couetise 4476
th
ness with Is roote & protind. with fals extort richesse,
is the root of Riot annexid, engendryng gret siknesse,
em Theron concludyng, how moderat diete
Set soule and bodi in temporat quiete. 4480
[How Enagora kyng of Cipre was bi Artaxerses
outraied/ and put from his kyngdam. ] !
| caso in ordre the processe of Bochas,
came belo As he remembreth next in his writyng,
er a by To hym appeerede, rehersyng bus be cas,
Enagora, that was of Cipre kyng, 4484
His eyen derkid be manyfold weepyng,
Because he hadde loste that riche lond,
Which he toforn hadde conquered with his hond.
for he had =
hisrich kingdom, 1 His lond of Cipre, as maad is mencioun, 4488
which abouade’ Of dyuers metallis is passyngli habounde, -
lies far to the Hath of richesse gret plente and foisoun;
And of his siht[e], lik as it is founde,
It stant fer south, with many hilles rounde, 4492 -
And hath also many commodites
Withynne his boundis off toun[e]s & cites.
ot Crprte king
4465. poticaries ] apotreanies B.
hem ‘J hem silf
4474. to] om. R. meas how that R.
4478. gret] lon
4480. temporat eed: R.
4484. hook Egipt H— Euagoras P. 4485. be] with H.
4487. he toforn Naa to forn he H.
4491. site J, R
1 MS. J. leaf 82 recto.
BK. 111 | The Fate of Theo, King of Egypt 455
Touchyng this Cipre I can no mor seie, mes Aira
Of which[e] lond Enagora was kyng, 4496 but Evagoras,
Til he gan proudli for to werreie by Artarerses
With Lacedemonoys, ther parti sustenyng, his realm
Geyn Artaxerses; & at ther meetyng
The said Enagora was brouht to outraunce, 4500
Put from his kyngdam & from al gouernaunce.
[How Theo kyng of Egipt bi Artaxerses was dryven
from his kyngdam and fledde in to Arabie. |!
gq Next Enagora kam the kyng Theo, aetaneeoe
Of al Egipt long tyme pocessour; seeite) cbs
And to Iohn Bochas he gan* declare his wo, —_ 4504 Fortuna
wickedly cast
How Fortune dide hir froward labour, him down
And from hym drouh hir frenshepe and fauour, Paap ba ee
And sodenli thoruh hir iniquite papitata
She cast this kyng doun from his roial see. 4508
She list hir malis from hym nat differre,
Ne wolde nat suffre hym to lyue in pes,
But caused hym to gynne a froward werre
Ageyn the said myhti Artaxerses, 4512
Wenyng therbi taue had a gret encres, —
Gadred shippes and made a gret arme
In his entent tamette hym on the se.
To Lacedemonois he was fauourable, 4506
Sent hem vessellis stufiid with vitaille, Pus ctons olten
Dempte of pride that hymsilff was able hasty con-
With Artaxerses to holden a bataille. re
But hasti trust doth foolis ofte faille, 4520
For this Theo was aftir anon riht
Dryue out of Egipt and Iput to fliht.
Artaxerses pursuede hym so sore, rok ge
Toforn his face he durste nat appeere, — 4524 Arabia.
Fledde in Tarabie, myn auctour seith no more;
Ban[y]shed fro Egipt, dedli of face & cheere.
And of his fate who-so list to lere,
He was depryued fro kyngli dignite 4528
And bi Fortune cast from his roial see.
4496. Euagoras P.
4502. Euagoras P. 4504. gan] gan to B— wo] om. R.
4508. kyng] thyng R — his] hir H.
4515. tamette] to mete H. 4520. often R.
4525. in to Arabye H, J, into Araby R 3, P—no more] nat
nomore R. 4528. kyngli] knyhtly H.
1 MS. J. leaf 82 recto. No break in text B.
456 Amyntas and his wicked Wife Eurydice [[Bk. 111
[How Amynta of Macedoyne kyng had by Erudice
his wif, Alisaundre, Perdica, & Philip, that were
slayn. | !
‘epee is oe ND among other, ther fatis compleynyng,
pray one pie Thoruh Fortunis dreedful violence,
had four | Ther cam Amynta, of Macedoyne kyng, 4532
ander, And to Iohn Bochas shewed his sentence.
And to declare his magnificence,
To Alisaundre graunfader in his liff,
Hauyng foure childre be Erudice his wiff. 4536
Pritt, na The firste of hem was Alisandre Icallid,
wife Eurydice. And Perdica namyd the seconde,
The thridde Phelipp, in Macedoyne stallid,
Kynge of Grece, lik as it 1s founde, 4540
Which in richessis gretli dide habounde,
And was eek fader, this noble werreiour,
To Alisaundre the myhti conquerour.
the chet © And or myn auctour ferther doth proceede, 4544
of the seven He makth in maner a digressioun
reece From his mateer, lik as ye may reede,
And gynneth in ordre a descripcioun
Of Macedoyne, the famous regioun, 4548
Among Greekis writ in especiall,
Of seuene provynces it is the princepall.
and stretches
from the Eeean And so procedyng, he seith how that contre
eee Strechchith his boundis aboute hym enviroun 4552
Toward the se which callid is Egee,
Foorth be Achaia toward septemptryoun.
And to Messie westward it goth doun;
And who that can bi crafte the coostis caste, 4556
To Dalmacia the name therof doth laste.
Mt. Olympus
in in Macedon, 12 Macedoyne, he doth us also lere, [p. 200]
nich it is x0 ~~ «Of Olympus stant the gret mounteyn;
neither the wind And in that kyngdam is many gret mynere — 4560
blows nor do
rains fall on its Of gold and siluer, lik as bookis seyn.
ee And on that hill is neuer wynd nor reyn;
4532. Amintas P.
4536. Euridice P. 4538. Perdicas P.
4541. Richesse H, Riches R3, P. 4544. doth] do H.
4547, 48 are transposed in B, correction indicated.
4554. septentrioun R. 4557. Dalmatia P.
4562. meuer] nouthir R.
1 MS. J. leaf 82 recto.
BK. 11] Amyntas and bis wicked Wife Eurydice
For thilke mounteyn so hih[e] doth atteyne,
That it may nouther blowe ther nor reyne.
The kyng Amynta, of whom I spak toforn,
Hadde in Grece many gret bataille:
Olympiens in Macedoyne born
And Illiriens, togidre he dide assaille.
Thoruh his wisdam he dide alway preuaill;
But with his enmys whil he stood most in striff,
His deth was shapen bi Erudice his wiff.
Myn auctour Bochas of hir doth diffyne,
She imagynede his destruccioun,
Because she hadde another concubyne
On whom she sette al hir affeccioun.
Day set and tyme to his confusioun,
Fulli ordeyned, at a mariage
He to be slayn bi oon of his lynage.
He hadde a suster callid Vrione,
Which prudentli espied the maneere
Of Erudice, and secreli allone
Goth to the kyng & told hym al ifeere.
And as the story in ordre tellith heere,
Thouh she faillede that day of hir emprise,
She thouhte fulfille it in a-nother wise.
This to meene, of hir iniqutte,
Of hir fraude and fals imagynyng,
She was in cause thoruh hir contrariouste
Of the destruccioun of this* mihti kyng.
For the conclusiouz of hir fals werkyng
Was to ha slayn the kyng & al his lyne,
She to haue regnede with hir concubyne.
But whan she sauh she myht[e] nat acheeve
Hir furious purpos bi non auenture,
Hir venymous malis upon hir lord to preeve,
On other parties she dide hir besi cure
Enmytes & myscheuys to procure
Ageyn the kyng, bi mortal fel assaies,
With sorwe and trouble for to shorte his daies.
. Amyntas P. 4566. gret] strong H.
. suster] daughter P — Fu Sue.
. maneere] mateere H, mateer R 3
. is misplaced at foot of column
. hirjhisH. 4589. this] ther B, R
. toslayne H. 4593. ascheve R.
457
4564
Amyntas fought
many victorious
battles against
the Olympians
and the
Illyrians;
4568 but his de-
struction
was plotted by
Eurydice for
the sake of
a lover she had.
4572
4576
heard of
4580 Eurydice’s
intention, told
Amyntas, and
although her
lan failed,
aut re suce
4584 stirring up 80
much enmity
and strife that
Amyntas’ days
were shortened.
4592
4596
. Eundice P — secretl y H. ste. ieee! in ee
45 7 day] om
458 Amyntas’ Grandson Philip goes to Athens (BK. 11
For who can Niht and day his lyff stood euere in dreed,
escape
the malice of | Hym to be-tra[i]sshe she cast out hook & lyne.
subtile women?
And who is he that can or may take heed,
Freli tescape, teschewen or declyne
Malis of wommen, whan thei be serpentyne?
Seeth an exaumple in this queen Erudice,
Void of al vertu and ful of eueri vice.
NO ye: i Alas, no prince can be war be other,
the experience “To bridle ther noblesse witb reynes of resoun,
trust himself to Swich as commytte, alas, bothe ship & rother
arens.
Vnto Syrenes to rowe hem up and doun
Thoruhout Caribdis to ther destruccioun.
Bi craft of Circes, alas, thei wer maad nyce,
Blynd to remembre upon this Erudice!
Amyntas Which made Amynta to lyue in sorwe & dreede,
lived in sorrow
end dread: and ‘To reste in pes suffred hym halue] no space.
old he calied In thouht and trouble his liff he gan to leede,
is eldest son
Aletander to Til be long processe deth hym gan manace;
made rece” Yit or he deide Fortune gaff hym grace,
with Athens ~~ His eldest sone bi wisdam to ordeyne,
Callid Alisandre, his crowne to atteyne.
Thus Alisandre was his successour;
For Thath[e]nienses gan ther rancour lete
Ageyn[e]s hym, for [he] with gret labour
Bi ther suffraunce cam to his roial seete.
And for to sette his rewm in ful quiete,
First with Athenys, the stronge myhti* toun,
Prouided a pes, of hih discrecioun.
and sent bie And for tauoide al ambiguite
oung son
Philip thither Of old debatis and of old outrage,
First he sente into that strong cite
His sone Phelipp, yong and tendir of age,
On pes assurid to lyn ther for hostage.
And in that cite, the story berth witnesse,
He gan to growe vnto ful hih noblesse.
Philip was td
given into the He was commytted to the disciplyne
care of F
Epaminondas Of a gret duk callid Epamynedoun,
one e
most excellent Which to al vertu his youthe made enclyne.
princes of bis For of this duk Iustyn maketh mencioun
4616. he]om. R. 4625. his] this R.
4626. stronge qe myhti eis . R, J, P.
4627. saab 483 3. that] be H
4636. Epaminondon 4637. youthe] om. R.
4600
4608
4612
4616
4620
4624
4628
4632
4636
BK. III] The great Duke Epaminondas
Bi a maner recomendacioun,
Tofor nor aftir, as be his auys,
Was neuer no prince mor excellent nor wis.
First he comendith his vertuous corage, [p.
His hih noblesse, his knihtli excellence,
And be discent he born of hih lynage; __
And in too thynges concludeth his sentence,
Seith that he was of most magnifisence,
Egal to Mars be famous cheualrie,
And sone to Phebus thoruh hih philosophie.
And Bochas heer doth his stile auaunce
Ful notabli with excellent langage, _,
And seith no tresour atteyneth in substaunce
To thilke richesse, auoidyng al outrage,
As whan ther is be bond of mariage
Knette up a knotte atween thexcellence
Of famous knihthod and of Dame Prudence.
This knotte auaileth mor than gold in coffre,
And is mor glorious perpetuelli tabide,
A myhti prince to been a philisophre,
Which can be prudence alle vices set aside, —
For whan to manhod prouydence is guide,
And vertuous force is capteyn in the werre,
Lat men weel truste, that parti may nat erre!
This Epamynoda, of knihthod sustenour,
Charboncle of vertu, as bookis telle konne,
Of gentil maneres callid the famous flour,
And of hih noblesse a verray worldli sonne,
Whos knihtli tryumphes be so hih up ronne
To Martis paleis, with the blissid souns
Of Famis trompetis and goldene clariouns.
For he was callid the briht[e] cleer merour
Of mhtful quarellis the parti [to] susteene,
Of extort wrongis most iust reformatour,
Ay egal iuge, of entent most cleene,
Whiche neuer koude nothyng but trouthe meene,
Wolde of custum for hate nor alliaunce
On nouther parti declyne the iggy
4641. nor wis] of price H, of
vertuous R. 4548. hih]} his
4654. a] the R excellence ] excellence
4663 aminondas P. 4669. Famis famous R, P.
4671. tolom.H. 4673. entent] ente
459
4640
201] peene says that
e was the
equal of Mars
in chivalry and
4644 % sn of police
tte
philosophy:
4648
And Bochas
himself records
that no treasure
i tasa
4656 Te avails eold:
4660
Epaminondas,
flower of gentle
4668
sustained que
causes an
put wrongs to
right. alee
an sereite ¢
4672 § jud ge and a
victorious
Bc eneral who
paises ie
for the good of
the common-
4676 weal.
S45. knihtli]
sar heerte er R.
460 The noble Character of Epaminondas [ BK. II
And to comende his vertuous prowesse,
His preuyd tryumphes, his magnanymyte,
His marcial actis, his knihtli bisynesse
In the getyng of many a strong cite, — 4680
And al his labour was for the comourte,
Which to augmente he wolde neuer cesse,
Swich ioie he hadde the comoun good tencrece.
Whatever : : :
Whatever —_ This was also his vsaunce ouermor: 4684
obtained he a iti :
aera What-euer he gat to parte it in largesse;
among his Of gold nor coign he sette but litil stoor,
followers ° °
and set but For al his herte was sette on gentilesse
little store on
gold, always. Bi manli fredam, and, pleynli to expresse, 4688
fea Ge He spared no good, it shewed weel in deede,
soldiers and = Hig trewe seruauntis to helpe hem in her neede.
leaving no
treasure behind
him when he
ied.
He kepte nat in coffres his tresour,
Of his nature he was so liberall | 4692
For to releue ech manli soudeour,
Swich as wer preued in actis marciall.
And for to holde his feeste funerall,
Aftir his deth, his story maketh mynde,
Thoruh fre departyng ther left no gold behynde.
aiaprighes Alle his offses & famous dignites
Greek cities : . :
sid supmentaa And gret emprises in his tyme wrouht,
ou serrtones Encresid fraunchises thoruh Grece in his cities 4700
for himeelf, and With libertes bi his prudence out souht
was throughout
his life a For comoun profht, and for hymsilff mht nouht,
student of the With gret aumentyng of straunge teritories:
Al this cam in bi mene of his victories. 4704
And among alle his knihtli excellences,
Bi dyuers auctours vnto mynde is brouht,
How al his liff he studied in sciences
And upon konyng set hooli his thouht. 4708
Bi manli prowesse of deth he rouhte nouht:
That was shewed, as it is weel founde,
The day whan he resceyuede his dethis wounde.
4683. comouns H.
4684. ouermor] evermore R, evirmore H, evermore P.
4698. famous] knyhtly H.
4710. is] was H.
BK. IIT | The noble Character of Epaminondas 461
He was hom born vnto his pauylliouz, 47a ent fear
Al his armure with blood steyned red, day he received
And on a couch[e] bi his men leid dou, and was borne
And gan abraide as he lay half ded: stained armour
“Sires,” quod he, ‘‘of o thyng taketh heed, 4716 poly atenions ‘
Hath any enmy this day in the feeld, i tephra
Whan I was woundid, taken up my sheeld?” papal
And whan his knihtis hadde told hym nay, ret apiorid
Bi a maner of knihtli reioysshyng 4720 him that it had
He hem comaunded, withoute mor delay manded it to be
To his presence that thei sholde it bryng. eee ad:
And therupon ful pitousli lookyng, er
Ful lik a kniht, & with a mortal cheere 4724
He kissid it, and seide as ye shal heere:
“Thou wer my felawe in armys [and] my eee vere ay
brother, [p. 202] ae attr my
That neuer woldest my felaship forsake, please my soul
Seur and abidyng, ther was nat swich a-nother, 4728 thou st
In eueri iourne that I did vndirtake. Reet anes
To me wolcome, an eende I mut now make.
Aftir my deth my soule shal ha[ue] plesaunce,
The to be kept yet for a remembraunce.” 4732
Afforn his deth[e], it is put in mynde, ee aie
The same hour, it cam to his memorie pea
To enquere, he lefft nat behynde, day?”
“‘Ha[ue] we,’ quod he, “this day hadde* victorie? 4736
Or in the feeld who hath the palme of glorie?”’
He praied his knihtis that day he sholde deie,
The pleyn[e] trouthe that thei wolde hym seie.
And thei hym tolde platli al the cas, 4740 find hea tow
How his parti hadde wonze the feeld of myht; pa ee died
And with that woord he so reioysshed was, Uke & worthy
That he his sperit yolde anon vpriht. a
And so he deide lik a worthi kniht, 4744
In whom is shewed what vailleth, in sentence,
Noblesse of knihthod ioyned with prudence.
4714. leid] lay H.
4730. welcom R, H.
4736. this day hadde] hadde this day B, H 5 — this day quod
e hadde be ale H, R 3 (om. pe) — hadde] had the R.
4737. who hath] had R.
4738. that] the H, P.
4743- vp anoone riht H, anon vpriht B, H 5s, R 3, R, J, anone
vpright P.
462 The Fate of the Tyrant Haman [ BK. II
qnrouee ing, And bi the mene of his wis doctryne,
Philip (whove ~Phelipp, that lay with hym in hostage, 4743
alain by Laan Gan encrece in knihtli disciplyne,
knighthood and Wex in vertu riht as he wex in age.
Whos fader was be furious outrage
(Callid Alisandre, as maad is mencioun,) 4752
Slayn bi his mooder be couert fals tresoun.
Aer Als: ,, Afftir whos deth[e], Perdica in deede,
Perdiccas, bis, The yonger brother, the story doth deuise,
younger brother
th
came to the “To the crowne gan lynealli succeede; 4756
too was slain. Anon slayn aftir in ful cruel wise.
Swich fals[e] moordre ech man sholde agrise,
As ye han rad{de], first of Amynta,
Of Alisaundre and of kyng Perdica. 4760
[Ho[w] the proude tirant Aman was honged and
the Innocent preserued. | !
ae HE horrible fall furious for to reede,
prerran DY That folweth after of be gret Aman,
governor under A ful fals tiraunt found in thouht & deede,
And was of berthe an Assyrian, * 4764
Which, as the Bible ful weel reherse kan,
Was cheeff maister, as men may ther* conserne,
With Assuerus his peeple to gouerne.
His heart was His herte was exaltid hih in pride, 4768
swollen with
pride, and it_ ‘To goddis peeple most contrarious,
was his pur-
pose to destroy His hatful venym he list nat for to hide,
the Jews an
their law. But lik a tiraunt most malicious,
Of wilful rancour, fell and despitous, 4772
Full: purposed, and koude hym nat withdrawe,
To destroye the ewes and ther lawe.
Granted ne 10 his entent he gat auctorite
sent out letters Bi his fals[e] sotil compassyng: 4776
commanding all
the people of Sent out lettres into ech contre
down teh, Thoruhout al Perse be biddyng of the kyng,
That hih and low, withynne that lond duellyng, —
No wiht except, — that peeplis al aboute 4780
Sholde vnto Aman obeie, kneele and loute.
4754. Perdicas P.
4764. an Assyrian] a Macedonyan B, H, R, Bf R3, Hs.
4766. as men may ther] who can weel
4768. exaltidwasH. 4773. mae "dnposid R.
1 MS. J. leaf 83 verso.
BK. 111] The Fate of the Tyrant Haman
This was the biddyng of kyng Assuer,
Whan queen Vasti was uoided for hir pride,
And Hester chose, a maide most enteer,
Was brouht to court with the kyng tabide,
Which hadde in youthe for to been hir guyde
A worthi Iew callid Mardoche,
Withynne Susis a large fair cite,
Bi whos counsail eueri thyng she wrouhte,
Passyng fair and of gret meeknesse.
And whan the eunukis to the kyng hir brouhte,
She was accepted for hir gret fairnesse
Vnto his grace, hir story berth witnesse,
And ther cherisshed in especiall
Boue al the maidenes in the court roiall.
And of al Perse she was Icrownid queen,
A pes comaundid thoruh al tho regiouns
Duryng the feeste, that men myhte seen
The kynges nobley in cites and in touns.
And of this feeste the riche roial souns
Cam to the eris of symple Mardoche,
Which cam with othir the maner for to see.
Tofor the paleis as he dide abide
With othir Iewes in his companye,
Of happ as he caste his ere aside,
He of too porteris the counsail dide espie,
How thei hem caste, bi fals conspiracie,
To slen the kyng som day of that yeer,
Lik ther entent whan thei fond best leiseer.
Whan Mardocheus prudentli gan feele [p.
The secre malis of ther compassyng,
Of compassioun he wolde it nat concele,
But made Hester discure it to the kyng.
Wherof convict, thei wer lad to hangyng,
As me semeth, a competent guerdoun
For al that falsli imagyne swich tresoun.
4783. uoided ] weddid H.
4787. Tew] Youhe R.
4791. eunukis] om. H, muddled in R.
4795. Boue] above H.
4796. crownyd H.
4799. 2nd in] om. R.
4809. best] om. H.
ae Wherof] Wherfore H.
. swich] such als H.
463
and this was
by the bidding
of King
eee at
the time he
4784 divorced Vashti
and chose
Esther, who
in her youth
had always
followed
the counsel of
4788 Mordecai of
Shushan.
4792
and was now
4796 crowned
ueen of
ersia.
Mordecai heard
of the wedding
festivities and
went wi
4800 others to sce
the sights,
and hd ne
stop ore
the palace he
4804 became aware
of two porters,
« who were
conspiring to
slay the king.
4808
Out of com-
203] passion he
caused Esther
ool
asucrus;
4812 and the two
porters were
convicted and
hanged.
4816
464 The Fate of the Tyrant Haman [ BK. III
gnus Mordecai Bi which[e] mene the said[e] Mardoche
favour of the Was weel accepted to kyng Assuer,
stood free of Likli also to stonde at liberte
Haman, Out of the malis and the fell daungeer 4820
Of cursid Aman, which list make hym no cheer,
But compassede in ful fel manere
Hym to destroie & Iewes all ifeere.
fo whom he did This Mardocheus, the Bible telle can, 4824
the statute, = Withdrouh hymsilff for to do reuerence
commanded.
In his malice Wnto this tirant, the froward prince Aman,
Haman had a
gibbet erected Lik as the statut comaundid in sentence.
r him before
the palace — Which thyng tauenge be hasty* violence, 4828
Hind seq “°° This Aman made of hatrede to be set
unable to see
cece Affor the paleis a myhti strong gibet.
But who that caste hym for to do vengaunce,
And innocentis for toppresse of myht, 4832
Bi wilful malis tagreggen ther greuaunce,
As God wer blynde and hadde of hem no siht, —
But at the laste he wil of verray riht
Pun[y]she the proude for furious violence, 4836
The poore supportyng for ther long pacience.
ped ia those! As Mardocheus bi innocent lyuyng,
meantime, Be mene of Hester and hir gret meeknesse
aoe ae ot ae Accepted was to Assuer the kyng, 4840
was hanged The lawe of Iewes set In mor seurnesse,
gallows for his Froward Aman for his cursidnesse,
ae Vengable of pride, the Bible ye may see,
Was hih enhangid upon a galwe tre. 4844
Mardocheus, of prudence & resoun,
The furious daunger of Aman set aside,
Preserued his peeple fro destruccioun,
The tiraunt hangid for his froward pride. 4848
Thus kan the Lord his iugementis deuide,
Whan he seeth tyme, most myhti and puissaunt,
- Supporte the symple and punshe the tiraunt.
4824. the] this R.
4828. hasty] froward B, J, R.
4838. bi] for H.
4842. his] hir R.
BK. l11 | The Story of Artaxerxes and Cyrus 465
[Off the ii. brethre, Artaxerses and Cirus/ and
Artaxerses slouh his childre and concubynes/
and how thei ended. | !
FFTIR the fal of Aman, dout[el]les 4852 After the death
Whaz he beste wende ha regned in his flours, Artzerzes, in
Tofor Iohn Bochas cam Artaxerses, most renowned
Most renommede his tyme of conquerours,
Which gan declare the* sodeyn sharpe shours, 4856
With al the parcellis of his mortal peyne
Which that Fortune ageyn hym gan ordeyne.
This Artaxerses, as put is in memorie,
Al othir pryncis excelled in richesse, 4860 speared before
Which in his chaier, famous of worldli glorie, a strange thing
And with his throne of worldli hih noblesse all
Sat in his tyme, the story berth witnesse,
Hiest exaltid that was off eny kyng, — 4864
That he sholde fall, was it an vnkouth thyng!
Kynges he hadde vndir his obeissaunce, ites bik
’ d a hundred
An hundred prouynces, twenti & eek seuene, See id
Sone onto Darie, prynce of most puissaunce, 4868 ao ces woe
His fame drad[de] mor than firy leuene. was held to be
° ° e more e
Non so myhti vndir the sterrid heuene S
Acountid was that tyme, in werre & pes,
As was thys kyng callid Artaxerses. 4872
He hadde a brother that namyd was Cirus; Bee Cree
Out of o stok cam ther bothe lynes. and be pine
But Artaxerses, the story tellith thus, grain’ and oi
Was lord of greynes, of oilles & of vynes, 4876
And hadde also bi dyuers concubynes
An hundred children, lik as it 1s told,
And fiftene ouer, toforn or he wex old.
Of bothe brethre the poweer laste ferre, 88ers Cs
Duryng ther tyme stood in ful hih estat, ee aries
Yet atween hem ther was ful mortal werre, blood against
Ageyn nature an vnkyndli debat;
For thilke werris be most infortunat, 4884
Whan blood with blood, lat no man deemen othir,
List [to] werreie, as brother ageyn brother.
4856. was) B,R,J, P. 4857. the] om. H.
4864. was] evir was
4869. firy] fire R. 4878. childre H.
1 MS. J. leaf 83 verso.
466 The Story of Artaxerxes and Cyrus [ BK. In
end its causes And fynal cause whi this werre gan
as to which of Atween these brethre, as maad is mencioun, 4838
should ‘ ‘
succeed King Thoruh which debat ther deied many a man, —
The ground of al and first occasioun
Was onli this: for successioun, —
Aftir kyng Darie, regnyng in Perse & Mede, _— 4802
Which of them tweyne sholde next succeede.
febeme But Artaxerses bamaner prouydence [p.204]
secretly in Put pryueli his brother in prisoun,
rison and °
camper That he ne sholde make no diffence_ - 4896
wi ,
Nor gadre peeple to his destruccioun.
This yonge Cirus, as maad is mencioun,
Was faste stokkid, and eek as it is told,
That his stokkis and fetris wer of gold. 4900
but he escaped And thouh it be nat remembred in Bochas,
and, collecting
an army, met How that Cirus escaped fro prisoun,
rtaxerxes in .
battle, and, Yit also soone as he delyuered was,
hits foreed bea Throuh Perse and Mede ridyng up and doun, 4904
the faa.” + Gadred peeple off entencioun
Thoruh old hatreede his brother to assaile.
The feeld assignede, thei metten in bataile,
Wher Cirus proudli put hymsilf in pres, 4908
To shewe his manhod in especiall,
Souhte his brother, callid Artaxerses,
And gaf to hym a wounde ful mortall,
Withoute frenshepe or fauour fraternall, 4912
That Artaxerses, his wounde gan so ake,
Constreyned was the feeld[e] to forsake.
gyms then ~~ And Cirus thanne, furious as leoun,
slaughter his His aduersaries gan mortalli to wake;* 4916
Fortuna, ever But fals Fortune, ful of collusioun,
deceitful, caused
him to be Vnder feynt smylyng a mowe gan hym make,
taken prisoner, Which caused, alas, that day that he was take,
Afforn Iwoundid, it wolde be non othir, 4920
And than presentid to his vnkynde brothir.
and shortly. And thouh this Cirus hadde affor be founde
dice Yong, fressh and lusti, & manli of his hond,
Bi the constreynt of his mortal wounde 4924
He died anon; for he no socour fonde.
4887. fynal] fynalli J — whi] whi pat H — this] these R.
4896. ne]naR. 4915. Cirus] Cirus was J —a leoun J, R 3.
4916. tawake B,H5. 4919. 2nd that] om. H.
BK. III |
Artaxerxes and bis Son Darius
467
Thanne the two kyngdamys withynne Perse-lond
Fill to the hondis of Artaxerses,
In which aftir he lyued longe in pes.
Thus a gret space, lik a myhti kyng
Al Perse he heeld vnder his obeissaunce,
Be famous noblesse gloriousli shynyng,
Hauyng of richessis most fulsum habundaunce.
And as it 1s Iput in remembrance,
To mor encres of his prosperite,
In trewe wedlok he hadde sonys thre.
The firste of hem callid Darius;
Arabratus namyd the secounde;
And the thridde namyd was Othus,
Manli* pryncis, lik as it is founde.
And of nature as the kyng was bounde,
Vnto Danie, as it is maad mencioun,
Aboue echon he hadde affeccioun.
And for he dempte hym able to the werre,
Be likliheed, of yeeris yonge and greene, -
He caste fulli his noblesse to preferre;
Of hih prudence thus he dide meene,
His inpotence to supporte and susteene,
For he was feeble in Perse to regne allone,
He sette up Darie with hym in his throne.
Which was a thyng straunge and contrarious,
Ageyn the custum of Persiens and vsance;
But he supposed his sone Darius
Sholde in such caas encrese & avaunce
His fadres parti, of natural attendaunce,
And shewe onto hym trouthe & kyndenesse,
His impotence to cherisshe of gentilesse.
But in estatis ofte it doth thus fall,
Whan that princis be ronne ferr in age,
Ther childres loue ageyn hem doth appall,
Shewyng no frenshipe sauf for auauntage,
How that thei may reioise ther heritage,
And in swich cas whan thei wexe stronge,
Thynken ther fadris lyuen al to longe.
4932. fulsum] holsom H. 4936. hem] all H.
4939. Manli] Namli B. 4943. to] for R, vn to H.
4944. liklihoode H. 4947. Impotence H.
4928
became sole
ruler of Persia.
4932
His three sons
4936 were Darius,
Arabratus and
Ochus, but he
loved Darius
above the
others, and
deeming him-
4940 self too feeble
to rule alone,
Darius as ki
arius as king
beside him,
which was
contrary to the
custom of the
Persians.
4952
4956
But as it
often happens,
when princes
gtow old, their
children’s love
for them dies,
4960 and they begin
to think only
of their inheri-
tance.
468 Artaxerxes and bis Son Darius (BK. n1
what a at happened And Artaxerses stood in the same caas, 4964
As in his stori pleynli ye shal fynde
But Fe unkind Be rehersaile and writyng of Bochas,
How this Darie was fals & eek vnkynde,
Foryetilful, & hadde nothyng in mynde, 4968
How his fader, the trouthe to reherse,
Hath maad hym egal with hym to regne in Perse.
ane acbaie’ ~~ And to declare the firste occasioun,
father. To his fader how the said[e] Darie, 4972
Bi a fals maner of rebellioun,
Gan in his werkyng for to be contrarie,
Which to discure I wil no lenger tarie,
But with my penne in al haste proceede 4976
Heer to descryue how it fill in deede.
{here was's Artaxerses, among his concubynes, [p. 205]
mio belonged t It 1s remembrid how that he hadde oon
Artaxerxes; = Which, for to rekne wyues and virgynes, 4980
Was fairest holde of them euerichon,
Callid Artasia, of ful yore agon,
And was that tyme, hir beaute to descryue,
Among Persiens the fairest holde a-lyue. 4984
and although ~~ And thouh she were Ironne ferr in age,
she was
in years, having J ik as bookis list of hire expresse,
Cyrot bare, Bothe of colour and also of visage
not faded. § She kept hir beaute & hir natiff fresshnesse. 4988
Which was aforn{[e] for hir semlynesse,
To said{e] Cirus, breeffli to termyne,
Chose long afforn to been his concubyne.
When Cyrus But whan this Cirus was passid into fate, 4992
to Artarerzes, Which for his brother myht nat lyue in pes,
Anon upon, withoute lenger date,
She was take up for kyng Artaxerses,
Because she was of beute pereles. 4996
Aftir long. tyme, whan he fill in age,
She cleymed was bi title of heritage
ane after he. Of kyng Darie bi his fader lyue,
Darius claimed Feynyng his cleym[e] bi successioun, 5000
of bis inher AJ-thouh his fadir ageyn it dide stryve.
4966. rehersyng H. 4968. Foryetfull R, oh ele P.
4972. the] this R. 4982. Artusia P. 4985. ronne R.
4986. boo is) bochas R. 4989. hir] hir saide H.
4990. To] To be H — saide] the forsaid P.
4999. fadres R.
BK. 111] Artaxerxes and bis Son Darius 469
And thus began, as maad is mencioun,
Of ther debat the firste occasioum;
For Darie caste, al-be he bar it still, 5004
Hir to reioysshe ageyn his fadris will.
And tacomplisshe falsli his entent ape
Of hir to haue ful pocessioun, Oat tsqnerrs
Taforce his parti he made this argument: 5008 began. His
“‘Cirus,”’ quod he, as maad is mencioun, that she had”
Regnyng in Perse the myhti regioun, eeeakine, aki
And this story doth pleynli determyne, dar
“For hir beute made hir his concvbyne.” sora (oor bet ned
And aftir tyme, whan Cirus was ded, coreg Lim,
Artaxerses, his fader, ye may see, rane
Next hym succeedyng in Perse, it is no dreed,
List hir to cleyme eek for hir gret beaute. 5016
*‘And so,” quod Darie, “‘she longeth now to me,
Because she is so plesaunt to my siht,
Bi successioun I wil hir cleyme of nht.”
Thus kyng Darie to his fader saide 5020 Speed ca gi
He wolde haue Artasia the faire. pola fea
And therwithal Artaxerses gan abraide,
And ansuerde with face debonaire,
“My sone,” quod he, “I wil nat be contraire 5024
To thi desir, but of affeccioun
Delyueren hir to thi pocessioun.”
Of his promys he aftir gan repente, repented of hi
Cast hym to make another cheuisaunce; 5028 Promise and
And secreli his concubyn he sente,
Callid Artasia, as maad is remembraunce,
And thoruh his sleithti vnkoub purueiaunce,
Vnto the temple, swich menys he hath souht, _ 5032
Of gret Appollo that she in haste was brouht.
Wher she was veilled & maad a preesteresse ee a
Aftir the rnihtis, pleynli, and the guise cane Ore
Of old paynemes bamaner hoolynesse, 5036 she was made
And ther professid for to doon seruise, vowed to
chastity.
As ther statutis constreynen and deuise.
5007. Of hir ts repeated R.
5008. this] his H.
5011. playnly doth termyne H.
501s. hym] om. H.
5016. gret] om. H.
5017. now to] vn to H. 5021. Arthusia P.
470 Artaxerxes and bis Son Darius (BK. II
Duryng hir liff, it myhte non other be,
She bounde was to lyue in chastite. 5040
wtoraimar Lhis thyng was wrouhte bi the compassyng
mad for rage, QOf Artaxerses, be froward ialousie.
Wherof Darie, the yonge lusti kyng,
Wex almost wood whan he it dide espie, 5044
And gan compassen of malencolie,
Furious rancour & hasti cruelte
Vpon his fader auengid for to be.
revenge ald And his parti of force to susteene, 5048
pine! p with =, With hym he hadde, the story maketh mynde,
Psion dreet ears His brethre in bast, an hundred & fifteene,
father should Which to ther fader wer fals & vnkynde.
= Of al this noumbre ther lefft non behynde 5052
That fro this purpos onys list dissente,
His deth of o will all did* assente.
But Artaxerxes Yit of this straunge fals conspiracie
was informed
their “intentions ' Artaxerses hadde a knowlechyng, 5056
an army Al-thouh the stori doth nat specefie
How, ne be whom, he hadde therof wetyng.
For which in haste, he made no tarieng
To gadre meyne & make hymsilue strong, 5060
Hymsilff tauenge of this disnaturel wrong.
ene recived *© For Artaxerses, lik as the caas tho stood, [p. 206]
on them. Thouhte it sat weel to his hih noblesse,
To be venged upon vnkynde blood; 5064
For lawe, nature decres rihtwisnesse,
And alle statutis dampne vnkyndenesse,
Wherbi this kyng occasioun dide fynde
Ageyn his childre, because thei wer vnkynde. _—_5068
Some men say Somme men deeme how gret[e] multitude
of children Of many childre maketh a fader strong;
strong, but this But therupon, pleynli to conclude,
is true y
they are Vertu is cause, yif she duelle hem among. 5072
een But yif ther corage enclyneth onto wrong,
And vicious lyff do ther bridil leede,
The gretter noumbre, the wers thei must[e] speede.
2 wake! le” A progenie born of a cursid lyne _ "5076
may corrupt an May thoruh his froward fals infeccioun,
entire region;
5042. ialousie] Ieulosie R. so . it] om. H.
5054. all did] thei B, R, J, R 5, P. 5058. ne] nor H.
5067. kyng] thyng R. con. ” fals froward R.
BK. 11] The End of Artaxerxes and Darius 471
Outward be colour of trouthe thouh he shyne, 7
Vnder apparence and symulacioun Ait sour
Infecte and corupte al a regeoun; 5080
For, it 1s seid of ful old langage,
Frut of sour trees take a sour tarage.
This was weel shewed in Artaxerses, Lanted ita
That suffred his brother deien at myscheeff, — 5084 rer wre)
Bledyng his wounde, left hym helpf[el]les, brother die ,
Which to his name shal euer been repreeff. whoee children
Thus blood vnkynde vnkyndli makth his preeff; 9 "** ™"™*
For al the childre fro his stok descendid 5088
Wer cursid echon, as heer is comprehendid.
The stock was
Ther stock was first contagious of nature, LS Adc
The griffes froward, thouh thei wer gret in noumbre, grafts and
. é < ranches
Which of assent dide ther besi cure 5092 froward, |
Bi fals tresoun ther fader to encoumbre. in number.
But ther 1s no shade nor no couert oumbre
So closli kept, namli of fals[e] guile,
But the venym wil shewen oute sum while. 5096
And thus the deth contagiousli conspired a then wks
Of Artaxerses sithe go ful yore, hia soldiers
unawares an
Wheron tauenge, hys herte was so fired slew every one.
Of furious ire & Ibrent so sore, 5100
That he nat koude differre it ferthermore,
But with his meyne fill on hem anon
Or thei wer war, and slouh hem euerichon.
He slouh also al his concubynes, 5104 fis concubines,
That wer ther moodres, of whom I told toforn, their mothers,
Suffred non to lyue of [al] ther lynes;
So of that lynage he hath the weed upshorn,
Fond among alle no greyn of good[e] corn: 5108
Convict bi doom, whan thei wer presentid,
~ How to his deth echon thei wer assentid.
His clothes spreynt with the vnkynde blood Se
Of his childre, which he dide sheede, 5102 ee es
Aftir whos deth in gret myscheeff he stood;
And so in sorwe his lyff he dide leede, —
Deied aftir in myscheef & in dreede. :
Deth quit with deth, & rage with rage: 5116
Loo, heer the fyn of his vnweeldi age!
5078. he] they R, she H. 5095. namli]} oonly H.
5099. was] om. R. Sior. nat] ne H.
5106. allom. R,J,R3,P. 5116. 1st deth] Seth R.
472 An Envoy on Fraternal Strife (BK. 111
g [Lenvoye. |
ne traerey HIS tragedie afforn declareth heere
osity betress The grete outrage of vnkyndenesse,
which led to Atween too brethre regnyng bothe ifeere 5120
war and the
destruction of In Perse-lond, as ye han herd expresse,
“ec Til dyuisioun, of al myscheef maistresse,
Gan entren in thoruh fraternal hatreede,
Which ageyn kynde destroied ther kynreede. — 5124
The werre aroos, contagious for to lere,
Thoruhout al Perse of mortal frowardnesse,
Of Cirus deth rehersyng the maneere,
How help[e]les he deied in distresse, 5128
And how the noumbre of brethre dide hem dresse
To slen ther fader — the story ye may reede, —
Causyng an eende of al ther hool kynreede.
Aare” Kyng Artaxerses, with a froward cheere, 5132
together with fmm
together with His iniuries & wronges to redresse,
and soon ==> SIouh his childre, ther moodres eek ifeere,
afterwards died. a
Spared nat oon, of cruel hastynesse. .
Bi which occasioun took a gret siknesse, 5136
Aftir deied in myscheef & in dreede,
Causyng an eende of al his hool kynreede.
The abomination :
The abomination] oo, heer a sorwe nat particuleer;
strife spread all For thoruh al Perse ran the cursidnesse, 5140
over Persia, :
infecting the The crokid fame sprad bothe ferr & neer
air with foul, : *
slanderous Of this vengable, hasti, fel woodnesse,
zeus" The hair infectyng witb sclaundrous foul blaknesse,
To shewe be vengaunce the contrarious meede 5144
Of blood vnkynde boorn of oon kynreede.
Noble Princes,
avoid rancour, Noble Princis, left up your eyen cleere [p. 207]
eemtkee ‘nd considreth, bi gret auisynesse,
follows blood ‘The woful stryues, the odious fel daungeere 5148
one kindred. Sowe in kynreedis of wilful straungenesse.
Of al rancour your corages doth represse,
Peisyng the myscheeuys folwyng on in deede
Of blood vnkynde born of o kynreede. 5152
g Explicit liber tercius.
5126. Thoruhout] Thoruh R.
5132. This stanza and the next are transposed R.
5135. cruel hastynesse] froward cursednesse B, J, R, P.
5143. foullom. R. 5148. fel] fals H, R 3, H 5.
BOOK IV
q Incipit prohemium libri quarti.
RUT of writyng set in cronicles olde,
Most delectable of fresshnesse in tastyng,
And most goodli & glorious to beholde,
In cold and heete lengest abidyng,
Chaung of cesouns may doon it non hyndryng;
And wher-so be that men dyne or faste,
The mor men taste, the lenger it wil laste.
It doth corages renewe ageyn & glade,
Which may be callid frut of the tre of lyf,
So parmanable that it wil neuer fade.
To the fyue wittis grettest restoratiff,
And to ther plesance most cheef confortatiff;
For of nature whan thei be quik & goode,
Thei of this frut tak ther natural foode.
Auctours heeron conclude and eek assente,
How that writyng of his kyndeli mht
Doth louid personis & liknessis represente
Of freendis absent, seuered fer from siht;
Dirknesse of absence is clerid with the liht,—
Thus frut of writyng hath his auauntages,
Of folk ferr off to presente the images.
Lawe hadde perisshed, nadde be writyng;
Our feith appalled, ner vertu of scripture;
For al religioun and ordre of good lyuyng
Takth ther exaumple be doctryn of lettrure.
For writyng causeth, with helpe of portraiture,
That thynges dirked, of old that wer begonne,
To be remembred with this celestial sonne.
5. non] no H.
15. conclude hereon H.
20. Thus] This H —w es R.
22. nadde be ] had be ee
25. Takth] Tak R.
26. portrateur R.
473
10. permanble R, permanable H, R 3.
8
12
The’ fruit of old
writings
It gives us new
heart, as if it
were the fruit
of the tree of
and clears
away the dark-
16 ness of absence
20
and brings the
images of loved
ones, who may
be far away,
near to us.
Were it not
oe ae
ad peri
and our faith
wn dim and
74 Taint.
28
474 A Prologue on Poets and Writing [BK. IV
God ordained God sette writyng & lettres in sentence,
the dul f i
Hie Guiness Ageyn the dulnesse of our infirmyte,
ilumine the This world tenlumyne be crafft of elloquence;
eloquence, to Canoun, cyuile, philosophie — these thre 32
and make Confermed fraunchises of many strong cite,
*ereements sure. ouenauntis asselid, trouthis of old assured,
Nadde writyng been, myht nat haue endurid.
Diligence,
triumphant over Dilligence, cheef triumphatrice 36
fte'luboar ©” OF slogardie, necligence & slouthe, —
brought things Kek of memorye upholdere and norice
long pa in ‘ °
fred remem And registreer to suppowaile trouthe,
peers Hath of old labour (& ellis wer gret routhe) 40
Brouhte thynges passid, notable in substaunce,
Onli be writyng to newe remembrance.
ee Writyng is cause that herto is remembrid
Iver ofvold® Lyf of prophetis & patriarches olde,
patriarchs and How thapostlis and martirs wer dismembrid
prophets and ave ° :
the martyrs For Cristis feith, his baner up to holde.
ho upheld th ;
bannerof Christ. ANd writyng sheweth, toforn as I you tolde,
Of confessours the grete stedfastnesse, 48
And of virgynes the virgynal clenzesse.
The diligence of Tik to a tre which euery yeer berth frut, _[p. 208!
a beautiful tree Shewyng his beute with blosmys & with flours,
that blossoms 3 ‘
and bears fruit Riht so the foode of our inward reffut, 52
ee Be dilligence of these olde doctours
And daili frut of ther feithful labours
Han our corages fostred & pasturid
Be writyng onli, which hath so longe endurid. 56
oY pree™ The Epigrames whilom perisshed hadde
Seneca’s
Seneca - Of prudent Prosper, that was so vertuous,
Stratagems of And of Senec the tragedies sadde,
Vegetius and : 7
the Satires of The Stratagemys of Vigecius, 60
vanished, but Rebuk in vicis of noble Percivs, —
for writing, that
voochesie’’ to’ Yif in olde writyng hadde be founde a lak,
pocts their = = These said[e] thynges hadde fer be put abak.
eternal name.
Take record of ° :
Virgil, the | Writyng caused poetis to recure 64
antuan, who,
sovereizn of - A name eternal, the laurer whan thei wan,
oe Eneas 2M adamaunt graue perpetuelli tendure.
and Dido. =» Record I take of Virgile Mantuan,
29. lettris & writyng H.
31. to elumyne R.
39. Registeer H. = 51. shewith H.
ae Rs es SE
BK. Iv | A Prologue on Poets and Writing
That wrot the armys & prowesse of the man
Callid Eneas, whan he of hih corage
Cam to Itaill from Dido of Cartage.
Thre famous bookis this auctour list compile,
Eneidoys first; which that dide excell
In rethorik be souereynte of stile.
He drank swich plente, this poete, as men tell,
Of the stremys that ran doum fro the well
Wrouhte bi tho sustres that be in noumbre nyne,
Prowesse of kmihthod most cleerli to termyne.
For in that book he cast[e] nat to faill,
With vois mellodious for to descryue anht
The grete conquest of Rome & of Itaill
Wrouht bi Enee, the manli Troian kniht.
Whos vers notable yif so cleer a liht
Thoruh al the world[e], as in rethorik,
That among poetis was non onto hym lik.
He wrot also, this poete with his hond
Bi humble stile othir bookis tweyne,
Oon of pasture, the nexte of tilthe of lond,
The vers conveied with feet of metris pleyne.
Bi which thre labours a palme he dide atteyne,
To make his name throuh dites delitable
Aboue poetis to be most comendable.
Writyng of poetis hath set withynne his cloos
Conquest of knihthod, ther tryumphes & renouns.
Reed of Ouide Methamorphoseos,
The grete wondres, the transmutaciouns,
The moral menyng, [th]vnkouth conclusiouns,
His book de Ponto, & with gret dilligence
Ful many a pistil compleynyng for absence.
Of craft of loue a book he hath compiled,
Wheroff Cesar hadde ful gret disdeyn,
Which was cause that he was exilled
Tabide in Ponto, and neuer come ageyn.
And yit he dide his labour in certeyn,
In hope of grace, his wittis to applie
To write a book of louis remedie.
69. whan he] which H. —— 72. Eneidos R, Enoydos H.
79. vois] wise R.
96. thvnkouth] vnkouth R, J, P, R 3.
102. come] to cum H.
475
72
and described
the conquest of
84
He also wrote
about pastoral
life and a Book
of Tilth in
metrical verse,
arene apalm
88 above all other
poets.
Read Ovid’s
92 Metamorphoses,
his Epistulae ex
Ponto, his
Tristia, his Ars
amatoria,
because of
which Augustus
96 exiled him, his
Remedia
amorts.
I00
104
87. Oon] And R. go. delectable R.
J omits lines 99-288.
476 A Prologue on Poets and Writing [BK. IV
pnd remember Writyng of old, with lettres aureat,
laureate in Labour of poetis doth hihli magnefi,
ome, and his é
Book of Two Record on Petrak, in Rome laureat, 108
Fort » hi ° °
Eclogues and Which of too Fortunys wrot the remedie,
hie Psalme of Certeyn Ecloogis and his Cosmographie,
porno And a gret conflict, which men may reede & see,
Africa, De Vite Of his querellis withynne hymsilff secre. 112
Solitaria and
his Book of
Ignorance, who He wrot seuene Psalmys of gret repentaunce,
rapes And in his Affrik comendid Scipioun,
Read hi Letteys And wrot a book of his ignoraunce
Without « Title Bi a maner of excusacioun, 116
of Famous § And sette a notable compilacioun
Women. a ‘
Vpon the lyff[e] callid solitarye,
To which this world is froward and contrarie.
And thus be writyng he gat hymsilff a name 120
Perpetuelli to been in remembraunce,
Set and registred in the Hous of Fame,
And made Epistles of ful hih substaunce
Callid Sine Titulo; & mor hymsilff tauaunce, 124
Of famous women he wrot thexcellence,
Gresilde preferryng for hir gret pacience.
At a: alto Writyng also remembrid hath how Troye
remembered in : 2
writing how = Destroied was, sith[en] go many a yeer, 128
Troy was ; a
destroyed, the The slauhtre of Ector, cheef piler of ther ioie.
slaughter o ° *
Hector, and And for the parti of Grekis wrot Omer,
omers ex-
clusive praise of Which in his writyng was particuleer;
areueke al by For Tachille, that wrouhte al be fraude, 132
arena: Aboue Ector he gaf a synguler laude.
Writing makes Writyng causeth the chaplet to be greene [p. 209]
gery Bothe of Esope and of Iuuenal;
Juvenal, and on Dantis labour it doth also meynteene 136
ante it bestows
celestial fame. Bi a report verray celestial,
Sunge among Lumbardis in especial,
Whos thre bookis the grete wondres tell
Of heuene aboue, of purgatorie & hell. 140
Through writing Mien be writyng knowe the meracles
the miracles and fear
the miracles and Of blissid seyntes & of ther hoolynesse,
blessed saints, Medecyne[s], salue & eek obstacles
of medicines and ° .
salves and =©Geyn mortal woundis and eueri gret seeknesse, 144
staunches for
mortal wounds, Recreacioun and solace in distresse,
113. Psalmys] palmys R. 114. his] om. R.
132. Tachille | to Achilles H, tachilles R 3, P.
140. hell] of hell H. 144. Geyn] ageyne H.
BK. Iv] A Prologue on Poets and Writing 477
Quiete in labour, in pouert pacience,
And in richesse riht, trouthe and conscience.
q Shortnesse of lyff and foryetilnesse, 148 cot
The wit of man dul & ay slidyng, of memory,
: sake negligence and
Necligence and froward idilnesse, — idleness, would
Echon stepmooder to science and konnyng, the mind of ast
That I dar sey[e]n, nadde be writyng 152 (eee fenwtitne.
Onli ordeyned for our auauntages,
Ded wer memorie & mynde of passid ages.
And thus in cheef thes causes affor told eds ee
Meued the herte of Bochas to writyng, 156 Pee tered ©
And to remembre be many story old princes, who
Thestat of pryncis, in chaieres hih sittyng, ahroncsiand
And for vices ther vnwar fallyng, ther sees:
Yiuyng exaumple, as I afferme dar, 160
Of fals Fortune how thei shal be war.
His firste thre bookis be ful cleer merours, eat
Fulli acomplisshed, as Bochas vndirtook, Ppenel his
The cause of fallyng of many conquerours, 264 Pea
Onli for trouthe and vertu thei forsook.
For which myn auctour toward his fourte book
Gan sharpe his penne, to his eternal fame,
Onli be writyng to geten hym a name. 168
Myn auctour Bochas, that so moche koude, pec
Begynneth heer to make a processe ee ne
Ageyn thoutrage of pryncis that wer proude, Proud princes,
Which wer brouht lowe for ther frowardnesse, _172 brought low
* cir
And notabli remembreth how* meeknesse, perversity.
Which stondeth hool in oon & doth contune,
Is ay fraunchised fro daunger of Fortune.
But he in maner doth recapitle ageyn 176 eden oe
The fal of many that sat on hih[e] stages, ae ee
How thei for vicis stood ay in noun certeyn, adultery,
Cam to myscheef for ther gret outrages.
148. H bas large initial.
151. Echon] om.
153. avauntage H. 1 54. Age H.
155. cheef] myscheef (but mys crossed out) B—thes] ther R
— to fore R.
158. chaiers R, chaires H.
162. be} bi R. 169. moche gode eause R.
170. Begynnyng R. 173. how] the
176. recapitle] a Chapitle H.
478 A Prologue on Poets and Writing [ BK. IV
Remembryng first of Priam the damages,
And how he loste sceptre and regalie
For sustenyng of fals auoutrye.
and of Astyares. The fal rehersyng of Astriages,
who married
daughter © That gaf his douhtir whilom in mariage
pan ot ioe To oon that was Icallid Cambises,
A poore man bor{fe]n of louh lynage,
For he shold[e] ha[ue] non auauntage
In no maner, nouther in riht nor wrong,
Bi rebellioun ageyn hym to be strong.
00 that id be For he tofforn hadde had aveseoun,
no male born Ffow ther shold oon procedyn of his lyne,
of his line who : :
could put him Which sholde hym putte out of his regeoun
from his throne.
Yet, after all And cause hym in myscheef for to fyne.
threw him. But yit Fortune koude hym vndermyne,
That al his wisdam stood in non auail;
For ageyn God preuaileth no counsail.
oeeg nor tell It needeth nat his story to reherse,
of he ory Nor the maner of his vnhappi chaunce,
King Tarquin. Nor the fallyng of Cirus kyng of Perse,
Nor of kyng Tarquyn for his mysgouernaunce,
Thouh Bochas heer put hem in remembraunce.
For as me semeth, it wer a thyng in veyn,
Thyng onys told to telle it newe ageyn.
Nor did Bochas And he list nat now to be rek(elles,
the tale of ~=Newe ageyn to make rehersaile
Artaxerxes.
it has already’ Of the kyng callid Artaxerses;
Bochas begins Sithe it is told, what sholde it mor auaile?
here with
Marcus Manlius. But he procedith streiht onto Itaille
To telle ther stories, and begynneth heer
At Marchus Manlius, a Romeyn consuleer.
q Finis Prologi.
181. loste] lefft H.
183. fal] fals H.
185. callid R.
180
184
188
192
196
200
204
190. a vision R, P, a visioun H, avision R 3, avycioun H 5 —
had] om.
202. as] om.
208. onto] in to H.
210. At]OfH — Marcus Manlius H, Mallius R.
BK. Iv The Story of Marcus Manlius
q Incipit liber quartus.
479
[Howe marchus manlius wrought and dyd for Rome
toune/ And at the laste he was by the comons
caste into* Tibre and there drowned. | !
ILOM in Rome ther was a gret lynage [p.211]
Callid Manliois, of renommed noblesse,
And of that stok, mht fair in his yong age,
Cam this Marchus, his stori berth witnesse.
Which bi processe for his worthynesse
Was thre tymes be iust eleccioun
Maad consuleer of that worthi toun.
Which to the comouz ful gretli dide auaile,
He dyuers times for the toun[e]s niht
Fauht in his daies many strong bataile,
And ay preuailede thoruh his grete myht,
And in the feeld{e] bi a synguler fiht
Outraied his enmy, lik as it 1s told,
And took from hym a riche bie of gold.
Torques in Latin, in Inglissh is a bie,
A cercle of gold, which that Marchus wan.
Brouht{e] it hom thoruh his cheualrie;
And of torques, he was callid than
Marchus Torquatus; & thus the name gan,
He to be callid, the stori tellith vs,
Among Romeyns Torquatus Manlius.
And he wolde ofte iuparte good & liff,
For the cite entre the feeld allone,
And ther conquered for a prerogatiff
Sondri crownes, with many riche stone,
Wan* tunicles of gold ful many one;
For thilke tyme, for dyuers hih emprises
Wer crownis maad in many sondri wises.
212. Malliois R, Manlyoys H, eankoye
214. Marcus H, io his] be H 218.
222. fiht] siht R
229. began R.
230. vs] thus H.
231. Mallius R.
235. many a H.
as Wan] Whan B, R — ful] om. H, R 3, P.
Steps from Pt, n.6 recto (below cut and Inctpit).
into read nito.
fat i H.
The Manlius
ve wae
celebrated in
212 Rome, and
Marcus, thrice
consul, was one
of its
descendants.
216
He often fought
for the town,
and after he
won a rich
220 8mm-ring of gold
from an enemy
in single
combat, he
224
was called
La ‘
orquatus; for
Torques in Latin
means a ring.
228
He also won
many crowns of
gold; and in
those days
crowns were the
reward of great
em prises
236
232
480 The Story of Marcus Manlius [BK. IV-
end, a Aulus For as Agellius maketh mencioun,
were given to “Ther wer in Rome deuised straunge crouns 240
they had fouste For such as hadden fouhten for the toun,
lives for the. And* for ther labour resceyued ther guerdouns,
called” ‘Bia prerogatiff callid champiouns,
champions. = Which sondry tymes of manhood & of myht 244
Iuparted ther lyff* for the toum[e]s mht.
ree were = Lik ther desertis thes croun[e]s took ther names;
Obsidional, = For summe of them wer callid Tryumphal,
Naval crowns, Youe onto knihtes for ther noble fames. 248
called Cartrence. Othir also callid Obsidional
In Romeyn tunge; & summe ther wer Mural, —
Eek other tweyne, Naual and Castrence,
And alle thei wern of ful gret excellence. 252
Gow, wee Lhe Tryumphal maked wer of gold,
given tog Offred in tryumphes to worthi emperours,
mighty con- Set with saphirs and rubies manyfold
: Vpon the hedis of myhti conquerours. 256
And whan that Rome was shynyng in his flours,
That crowne callid, with braunchis boornid faire,
In ther vulgar Thaureat Coronaire.
cease Thobsydyonal, of which I spak tofforn, 260
were wrought DPeuised wern, the book doth specefie,
grain of °
coro and) Croun[e]s notable wrouht lik greyz or corn,
thoee who | Youe onto princis which thoruh ther cheualrie
Tencd' cite. Reskewed seeges and saued the partie 264
Of hem that wer[e] closed streiht withynne,
Thoruh hih prowesse a crowne for to wynne.
The Mural 4 Another crowne, that callid was Mural,
was granted to Was youe and grauntid bi the emperour 268
axended the To hym that firste wan vpon the wal
assaulted. | At any seege, and ther abood the shour
Fihtyng allone, in hope of sum socour.
And he that myht[e] such a brunt susteene, 272
Sholde of laurer were a crowne greene.
and Nevel_ ~—- Naual crownes whilom wer ordeyned
carved like = For them that fauht[e] manli on the se, °
were ordained Whan ther shippis wer togidre cheyned, — 276
first entered He that of manhod & marcial surete
enemy. Wpon his enmyes made first entre
239. Aulus Gellius P. 242. And] As B—labours R.
243. callid] maade R. 245. lyfflyues B. 6. thes] be H.
252. excellence] reverence H, R3. 253. The] This R.
BK. IV ]
Resceyue sholde, in al the peeplis siht,
Korue lich a rother, a crowne cleer & briht.
The nexte crowne, which callid is* Castrence,
Was youe of custum to that manli kniht
That list auaunce hym thoruh his magnificence,
Hostes assemblede, iuparte wolde of myht
Tofforn al other [t]entren into fiht,
Sholde eek resseyue, his noblesse for to queeme,
A sterrid crowne maad lik a diadeeme.
The crowne also which callid was Oual
Took first name of ioie and gladnesse,
Which kynges, princis in actis marcial
Vsid somtyme in ther ioious noblesse
At sodeyn skarmysshes of casuel hastynesse,
As whan thei venquysshed proudli in bataille
Such as ther hihnesse vnwarli wolde assaille.
And for thei wern of poweer invyncible,
Ther noble crownis coriousli wer wrouht
Of mirtis branchis, which been inputrible,
Enduryng euere and corupte nouht.
For this woord Qual, yif it be weel souht,
Is seid of gladnesse, as put is in memorie,
Ordeyned for pryncis after ther victorie.
Anothir crowne callid Cyuyca,
Of oken bowes was maad[e] round & pleyn,
Ordeyned for them which pro Re Publica
Koude in bataile reskewe a citeseyn
And slen his-enmy that was a foreyn.
Of myhti ok he sholde for manheed
Cleyme to were a crowne upon his hed.
And lik as knihtis in marcial delites,
For comoun proffit dede hemsilf auaunce,
So for ther noble victorious merites
The Romeyn peeple hadde a gret plesance,
With sundri crownis marcial in substaunce,
281. is callid B, R.
285. tentren] entren R.
291. ther] the R.
296. wer} was R.
The Story of Marcus Manlius
280
received by
that knight who
entered into
284 battle before all
other men,
and the Oval
288 crown by the
victor in 8
sudden
irmish.
[p. 212] of tyre
296 branches, which
never corrupt.
300
The Civic
crown, made
of oak boughs,
io the reward
or rescuing a
304 citizen in battle
and elaying his
enemy.
308
As Aulus
Gellius records,
the Romans
took great
pleasure in thus
rewarding their
312 famous knights.
297. Late Marcus H, Martys H 5s, mirthis R 3 — imputrible
308. a] bat H.
312. Romeyn peeple] Romayns H.
482 The Story of Marcus Manlius [BK. IV
For to guerdone ther knihtis most famous,
Myn auctour record callid Agellius.
Mies raked hie Among other that dede ther besi peyne 316
life, and won ~=Such[e] crownis manli to recure,
many crowns, e .
Marcus Manlius, in manhod souereyne,
Put ofte his lyff in mortal auenture;
For in his force so moche he dide assure, 320
That he deserued ful yore agon
Of these said crownes many mo than oon.
and was given And to [the] encres of his noble fame
Capitolinus He dede a thyng bothe manli & dyuyne, 324
Wherbi that he gat hym a surname
To be callid Marchus Capitolyne,
Which aboue alle his namis dide shyne, —
Whan he allone, wherbi he is comendid, 328
The Capitoile from enmyes hath defendid.
at the time = = Whan thei of Fraunce hadde taken the cite,
French captured Put al Rome at myscheef onto fiiht,
tied te aks And leid await[e] with a gret meyne 332
The Capitoile for to take at niht,
Bi a passage that lay ferr out of siht
Vnder a roche callid Carmentoun,
Ther taue entred into the cheef dongoun. 336
og es Thei wer ther shrowdid vndir a dirk[e] vale,
saley ete With ordynaunce and myhti violence
scaling the wall Toward mydniyht the wallle] for to scale,
in a surprise
attack. Most couertli them keepyng in scilence; 340
Dempte pleynli, for lak* of resistence,
That thei sholde, maugre tho withyne,
Ther hour assigned, the Capitoile wynne.
But the brave. But the ges that wer wit[h]ynne cloos, 344
wings and made The waker foules be noise of ther komyng
Soton that Gan bete ther weenges, & up anon aros,
reus awoke,
Wherthoruh this Marcus in his bed liggyng
Gan tabraide, & made no tarieng, 348
Took his harneis, most furious & wroth,
And to the wallis in al haste he goth.
315. A. Gellius P.
318. Mallius R.
325. that] om. H — gat] gaff R.
333. to] om.
337- Lhe] Ther R. 341. lak] lakkyng B, J.
343. the] ther H. 346. aros] thei aros R.
The Story of Marcus Manlius
And hym that cam first upon the wall,
Of verray force, withoute mor tarieng,
Doun into Tibre he made hem haue a fall; :
And all his felawes bisi in scalyng,
With sheeld or pauys, or ladderes up reisyng,
This manli Mark, shortli to comprehende,
Into the flood he made hem to descende.
Vnto the deth, of hym thei wer abauyd;
For bi his knihthod & his hih renoun,
Maugre them, the Capitoile sauid
And aftirward rescued al the toun.
[And] for the fortune, in conclusioun,
Which that tyme dide vnto hy» fall,
Capitolinus men dede hym aftir call.
BK. Iv |
And for he was so victorious,
Hymsilff allone be this hih victorye,
This name he gat to hym & al his hous,
Perpetueli to been in memorye
And registred in the consistorie,
In ther cronicles his name determyned,
With goldene lettres to been enlumyned.
And the gees, of whom I spak also,
That so weel kepte wach upon the niht,
483
and, rushing to
ne wall, threw
the enemy one
352 after another
into the Tiber.
356
They were cast
down by him to
their death, and
thus the Capitol
360 was saved.
364
For this deed
the name
Capitolinus
was given to
him and his
family in
368 perpetuity.
And the geese
372 were ae
sacred to Juno
and never eaten
Itake wern and offired to Iuno in time of
Solempneli with gret[e] torchis liht, ae
To whom also it grauntid was of nht, 376
Whan a famyne maad her stoor to faile,
Thei spared wern & take for no vitaile.
And thus was Marcus lik a* conquerour —[p. 213] Bypqu' eexived
Worsheped in Rome, alle beyng of assent.
But whan summe folk be set in gret honour,
Sumtyme it happeth thei holde hem nat content,
With couetise ther hertis be so blent,
Fro sufhsaunce, aboue ther degrees
To surmourte to hier dignites.
This Manlius was fret in his corage
To gretter worshepis sodenli tascende,
Deemyng so to haue had auauntage,
353. hem) hym H.
379: Marcus lik a]
5.
383. so be H.
roe And Jom. R.
374. folents R.
ark a miht: B, R, J, Marc lik a H, R 3, P,
of a conqueror;
but, like many
other men set
in high honour,
he was not
content,
384
380
but wanted to
transcend his
equals,
388
484 The Story of Marcus Manlius [ BK. IV
And in hymsilff gan frowardli pretende
In that cite al othir to transcende,
Beside tryumphes, which wer to hym reserued,
Hiere to clymbe than he hath disserued.
and became But ther was oon, as maad is mencioun,
rd named Callid Camyllus, a lord of gret substaunce,
us, the
greatest man in Which in the cite & in that myhti toun
of the cty, . Aboue al othir hadde gouernaunce.
And as it is Iput in remembraunce,
To his gretnesse non othir myht atteyne,
At whos noblesse Marchus gan disdeyne.
paimgiiy In his herte he hadde a gret envie,
Which caused hym bi outrage for to erre
Ageyn Camyllus, which for his cheualrie
The toun gouerned bothe in pes and werre.
And for Marchus wolde hymsailff preferre
Aboue that prynce in worshepe and honour,
First of the peeple he gat hym gret fauour.
reel eat ions And bi a maner of conspiracie
many of the He gadred hertis of the comounte,
rare © And drouh also onto his partie
Gret multitude thoruhout the cite.
And thus roos first the dreedful enmyte
Withynze Rome, the story tellith thus,
Atween these pryncis, Camyll & Manlius.
andcaueed == ‘Thus first the venym atween hem two was sowe
great dissension. ‘ ‘ .
Of hasti hatreede bi fals occasiouns,
Which in the cite atween hih & lowe
Caused of newe dyuers discenciouns,
Aftir the[r] vnkouth straunge oppynyons;
For euert wiht drouh to his partie,
As thei wer meued in ther fantasie.
To put a stop But for to stynte this outragous errour
strife a ° °
dictator named And thes hasti stryues furious,
Cornelius Cassius
came from Ageyn fro Tuscan kam a dictatour,
eet can‘in That tyme callid Cornelius Cassus,
gaol, Which of wisdam blamed Manlius;
395. Which] witb in R — that]
396. hadde] om. R. 397. Iput te R.
398. non ot cela R.
410. thoruhout] thoruh R.
418. ther vnkouth straunge] ther straunge vncouth H.
392
396
400
416
420
424
BK. Iv ] The Story of Marcus Manlius 485
For he caused such rumour in the toun,
And for his gilt comaunded hym to prisoun.
Which was in maner hyndryng to his name, 428 as
And appalled in parti his noblesse; in tame, Dut
For a tyme gan teclipse his fame, soe cere ks
But aftirward the cloude of that derknesse
Bi comoun fauour was turned to cleernesse: 432
For as it hadde be nht for the nonys,
In his diffence the comouns roos attonis.
First whan thei hadde among ther gret rumours, rebar ing Oe
Mid of ther fell [&] hatful contencioun Aa6 thee somes
Shortli rebuked the worthi senatours, humiliated,
Because Marcus was sette in prisoun,
Which hadde been so helplich to the touz.
Whom to delyuere thei dyuers menys souhte, 440
And, as I fynde, euene thus thei wrouhte:
First thei cladde hem in moornyng clothes blake, 42%», dressing
Pale of ther facis, pitousli weepyng, ge ee
Ther berd vnshaue, ther her to-reende & shake, 444 and tumult
Lik furious men up and doun rennyng prison,
Tofor the prisoun, al the niht wakyng.
And on his harmes pleynli to be wreke,
Thei gan manace the prisoun for to breke. 448
And for to stynte ther outraious clamour oe
dered
The senatour[e]s made anon ordeyne Breet ie
To delyuere hym out of his soiour, freed.
: ° But no sooner
Losne his feteres and to breke his cheyne. 452 was he released
d h h del d f than he wanted
And whan he was delyuered out of peyne, to be revenged,
His list nat stynte, of hasti cruelte
Of proude corage auengid for to be.
And in his furious fel presumpcioun, 456 os pon
Maugre the senat and tribunys euerichon, hat ne would
Saide he wolde gouerne Rome tou. himself. This
At whos outrage thei gan disdeyne anon; popularity,
The peeplis hertis from hym wer agon, 460
And for his pride thei bauisement
Assigned hym to come to iugement.
Forsake he was thoruhout the cite, [ps2 ee
Ther cam nat oon with hym of his kynreede, 464 he yas Ureueny
He fond non helpe in his aduersite,
436. &]om. J, Hs, R. 452. tobreke B.
486 The End of Marcus Manlius [BK. Iv
Sauff a fewe cam with hym in deede
Of the comouns, ful feeble at such a neede.
And thus, alas, he fond no resistence
Was vailable onto his diffence.
other belpy he But for socour constreyned and in dreede,
took off his ==Awey he putte his clothyng & vesture,
shewed the |= And naked stood[e], veraili in deede,
city At many scarmyssh and disconfiture.
And for reskus, to speke in woordes fewe,
The Capitoile to them he dide shewe.
and cried ina. And in supportyng eek of his quarell,
loud voice to hi
gods for aid. Meeuyng the peeple to rewe on his compleyrnt,
people began to First to his goddis loude he dide appell
weep, and the
judges were 10 To preserue hym of that he was atteynt.
countenance Lhe peeple aboute hym with teris al bespreynt,
moe That the iuges astoned wer in deede,
Wher-as thei sat ageyn hym to proceede.
fearing another But secreli he was lad out of pres
bad him led out ‘T’9 a place callid Frowmentyne,
secretly and ; :
thrown from the And ther, alas, thei wer [so] merciles
Capitol into the ‘ iis :
Tiber. His doom bi rigour fulli to termyne,
Spared nouther noblesse nor lyne:
Fro the Capitoile, out of the cheef donioun,
Lowe into Tibre for to be cast doun.
seme st" This was his eende, void of al fauour,
nee , Which no man wolde redressen nor amende,
those who labor Bi cruelte cast out of that tour,
community. Which he whilom most knihtli gan diffende.
But what man can be writyng comprehende
Thunseur socour founde in necessite
To them that laboure for any comounte?
Let proud men Tat men beholde, that truste on worldli thynges,
who trust in af
worldly things, And namli them that be proude and hauteyn,
consider the
fate of Marcus. Opne ther eyen, cast up ther lookynges
To considre & see weel in certeyn,
475. reskew H.
479. loude] low R. 86. so] om. 4J, R.
488. nor] ne H. 490. a doun H.
498. on] & R
499.
over the u in hauteyn, B
500. Opne] Opon R
468
472
476
484
488
492
496
500
them] thay H, thei R 3, they P—a borizontal line ts drawn
Sn ie OC
BK. Iv | A Description of Roman Triumpbs 487
Who trusteth Fortune, his truste is but in veyn!
And yif ye list a cleer exaumple fynde,
Among remembreth on Marcus in your mynde. 504
What myhte auaile his noblesse in bataile? eee
Bies of gold, crownes of laureer? crowns of gold
His riche platis or his vnkouth maile, his strong
His myhti sheeldis, that shon so briht & cleer? 508 tumphe avail?
Or his tryumphes, songe ferr & neer,
Or his victories for the cite wrouht? —
In his gret myscheeff auailed hym riht nouht.
[Here Bochas writeth in part ayenst / suche as
carmot be content with suffisaunce/ but vsurpe
to hihe dignitees. |!
EER Iohn Bochas callith to memorye gra Here Joba
The straunge salaire [and] be famous guerdoun se rensrés
Of them pat gat bi conquest & victorye these “who: on
Honour of tryumphe withynne Rome toun; Rome.
How it was vsid, he maketh mencioun, 516
Ceriousli reherseth the manere,
Which I shal write, yif ye list to heere.
Auis was take first of estatis thre: mph gid
Of men of armys, which that wer present, S20: (ne somatic
That sauh in deede the magnanymyte estates,
Of hym that shal haue it be 1ugement;
Of the clergie thei muste haue eek assent,
And of the senat and peeple most notable, 524
Be preef souht out that he wer founde able.
This prynce also, outher the capteyn, aaa
Which shal the tryumphe resceyue of verray mht, —_"pde through
Withyne a chaar, ful richeli beseyn 528 chariot of gold
He shal be set, of gold bornid briht, gems
Fret with stonis, which shal yiue a liht
506. papa Laureate H.
509 & jor H.
sir. mischeffs R—Jn inner margins: “Hic deficit rubrica”
R, “deficit Rubrica”’ B.
513. salary H — and] om. R, J, P.
523. the] ther R.
625. preef] trouth H.
1.MS. J. leaf 87 recto.
488 A Description of Roman Triumphs [BK. IV
As Phebus doth in his midday speere,
That no dirknesse aboute hym shal appeere.
drawn by = This heuenli chaar shal for mor delit,
pores: To shewe thencres of his knihtli glorie,
Be lad and drawe with foure steedis whiht
Thoruh the cite in tokne of his victorie.
And he shal han, for a synguler memorye,
In his mht hand a palme of gold ful sheene,
And on his hed a crowne of laureer greene.
He bore. * Palm He shal eek haue aboue al his armure, [p. 215]
right hand and Poudrid with palmys a cote of purpil red,
was crowned
with laurel. In his left hand, his quarellis for tassure,
Over his
armour he wore A standard round declaryng his manhed,
a garment o
purple powdered And al aboue set upon the hed
with palms, and
in hie left hand Lhe pryncis armys, ful riche of apparaille,
he held a saargin whos quarell he accomplisshed the* bataille.
a sms of hs And of custum the said[e] standard shall
H
ercorted to the Be richeli depeynt with red colour.
conqueror, And so this kniht, this man most marciall,
Shal be conveied lik a conquerour.
And yit for mor encres of his honour,
Vpon ther feet his prisoneres echon,
Take bi his manhod, aboute his chaar shal gon,
his prisoners =‘The moste worthi faste bi his side,
ing on foot at
is side, and, Al the remnant aftir on hym lokynge.
rts Echon the poetes which in the toun abide
sang his praise. Shal on hym waite at his hom komyng,
Dites deuise and of his conquest synge;
And streeng menstrallis, to bern also record,
Ther instrumentis shal touchyn of accord,
But to abate Alle of entent to yiue hym mor corage.
the most To the Capitoile so he shal be brouht,
miserable wretch 7 pf :
in all And list of pride he falle in non outrage,
Rome stood . " ‘
behind him, Nor surquedie withynze his owne thouht,
The moste wrech shal of the touz be souht,
Which of custum shal haue a staf in* honde,
And in the chaar behynde his bak up stonde.
: H.
ata rt B, R B, R
J.
556. 1st the] of R, of the J, P
5 59- bern] been R.
560. of | at R.
566. of] on B, R, J, P
532
536
540
544
548
556
560
564
BK. IV |
Gnotos Eolitos in Greek he sholde seyn,
Which in our tunge pleynli doth expresse,
“Knowe thi-silff,”” remembryng in certeyn
~ Vpon Fortunys froward doubilnesse,
On whom to triste may be no sekirnesse.
And who that douteth wher that it be thus,
Lat hym remembre the eende of Manlius.
What auailed his triumphes or his bies?
Crownys of gold & perlid fressh tunycles?
His hih prowesse, or al his cheualries,
Synguler fihtyng or marcial particules,
Newli remembred or rad in old cronicles?
Peise his merites, & see how at the laste,
How into Tibre ther champioun thei caste!
To his excus auailed neueradeel
Fauour of comouns, carectes of his woundis,
Nor to the goddis his lamentable appel,
Nor remembraunce of ther fraunchised boundis,
Teritories, nor wynyng of the groundis,
Which that he wan with spendyng of his blood, —
588
Al knet in on, to hym no sted the! stood.
Heer may ye see how Fortune sodenli
Cleernesse of fame can chaunge to dirknesse,
Glorie* to reproche, worshepe to velany,
And ioie passid to mortal heuynesse,
Swetnesse of sauour* into bittirnesse,
And sobirnesse into furious rage,
And old fraunchise to thraldam & seruage.
For ther was nouther request nor praier
That auailede to his delyueraunce.
In cheynys fetrid, dedli of look & cheer,
Abod the sentence of his fynal greuaunce, —
Pale of face, with tremblyng contenaunce,
Whan he, alas, gan mortalli aproche
Of Tarpeia to the hidous roche.
568.
573-
576.
577:
578.
579-
593.
594-
595-
Gnothy seanton P — sholde] shal H, R 3.
douteth] douteh R.
&] or H, R 3, Hs, P.
prowesse ] prowe R. ;
particles R, J, P, particlis H, R 3, particules H s.
new H.
sauour] fauour B,
forious R.
hraldam R.
»R3,
A Description of Roman Triumpbs
489
saying, “Know
568 thy and
remember the
doubleness of
Fortune, in
whom there is
no trust.”
572
For what
i ag
triumphs
576 Marcus?
580
He was thrown
into the Tiber,
and the favour
84 hi the Soran:
18 appeal to the
5 gods, and the
remembrance
of his past
services were as
nothing.
Thus can
Fortune
suddenly change
the brightness
of fame to
darkness, and
§92 glory to
reproach.
596 Fettered in
chains, he
awaited his
sentence, and
was led pale
and trembling
to the Tarpeian
Rock.
589. may ye] men ma i 591. Gloire B, J, R.
490 The Tarpeian Rock [BK. Iv
This rock was Of Tarpeia this roche bar the name
named after a
lady called ’ : ° .
lady called | Aftir a ladi, as maad is mencioun, 604
guilty of | Callid Tarpeia, which fill in gret diffame
treason, was °
buried under it. Because she was assentid to tresoun,
Taue brouht enmyes into Rome touz.
Wherof convict, hir stori 1s weel knowe, 608
Vnder that roche she was Idolue lowe.
And it was = "This roche also was callid Carmentoun
Carmenton, | Afftir a woman of gret auctorite
after Carmentis, P a é ;
awoman of Callid Carmentis, which thoruh hir hih renoun 612
great influence, i xe . ‘
who, built the The Capitoile made in that cite.
invented our ANd she fond lettres first of our A. B. C.,
elphabet- = And kunyng hadde, among hir werkes all,
Declare afforn[e] thyng that sholde befall. 616
Marcus found And on this harde sturdi roche of ston,
neither favour
nor friendship. Fro the Capitoile Marcus was cast doun.
Othir fauour nor frenshepe fond he non,
For alle his batailes fouhten for the toun. 620
The comouns hertis wer turnid up-so-doun,
Whos loue is lik, preued at assay,
A blase of fyr, now briht & now away. 623
The common ‘The comoun peeple may hote and crie faste, [p. 216]
people may
make promises, Ag ther hertis stedfast were & stable;
but when the :
need comes theyBut at a neede ther promys wil nat laste,
do not keep : *
them, Of ther corages the be so remevable.
To folwe resoun gerissh and vntretable, 628
Lihtli declynyng, and that is ful gret routhe,
Aftir oppynyouns, & nothyng aftir trouthe.
acc This Manlius was of his trust deceyued,
Marcus was
Oa a a Whos lust vnleeful departed was on tweyne, 632
First whan of pride he wolde ha be resceyued
To hih estat, which he myht nat atteyne,
Wherthoruh the senat gan at hym disdeyne,
And the comouns, ay fals at such a neede, 636
Lefft hym in myscheeff, & took of hym non heede.
609. Idolue lowe] I don throwe H.
616. fall H.
627. remevable] remuable B.
631. This] Thus H.
BK. Iv | An Envoy on false Ambition
q Lenvoye.
| this tragedie men may beholde & see
The pereilous damages of fals ambicioun,
Of them that benat content witb ber degre,
But wolde up clymbe, lik ther oppynyoun,
To hih estat be vsurpacioun, —
Which nat considre the sentence of scripture,
In a good mene men lengest may endure.
Who that vsurpeth to hier dignite
Than apperteneth to his condicioun,
In roial chaieres for to make his see,
And hath no title of lyne nor resoun,
Thoruh froward pride ful ofte he is put doun;
For lak he seethnat how eueri creature
In a good mene lengest may endure.
Whan Dedalus tauhte his sone [to] flee,
He bad hym first, of hih discresioun,
Fro Phebus heete keepe his wynges fre,
And fro Neptunvs cold congellacioun,
Menyng herbi, for short conclusioun,
That who that list with ioie his staat assure,
In a good mene he lengest shal endure.
Remembre the manhod & magnanymyte
Of Marcus Manlius, which be presumpcioun
Wolde haue gouerned Rome the cite,
Maugre the senat reulid that myhti toun,
Which turnid aftir to his confusioun,
For he sauh nat, such was his auenture,
In a good mene men lengest may endure.
Sume in ther grettest hih prosperite,
Of froward corage and furious mocioun,
In ther gret wele, bi fals duplicite
Han a maner straunge condicioun,
Nat to be content with plente nor foisoun,
Bi a fals etik, which of ther nature
In a good mene ne cannot long endure.
But in this erthe grettest felicite
Is hertis ese, richest pocessioun,
652. to] om. R, J, H, R 3.
659. &] & the R.
674. richesse H.
491
This traged
tells us of the
i that lies
in Hebe alee
640 ambition o
4 those who, not
contented with
their degree,
wish to climb
to higher estate
by usurpation.
644
Such people
are often put
down; they
cannot see that
all creatures
best endure
648 when they live
in a happy
mean.
Dedalus told
his son to fly
neither too high
nor too low,
652
656
but Marcus
Manlius,
660 content with no
moderation,
664
was like
many others
who in their
highest
668 Prosperity are
most
dissatisfied.
672
Heart’s ease
is the greatest
joy on earth,
492 The Story of King Nectanebes [ BK. IV
With sufhsaunce content for to be,
Of worldli trouble teschewe thoccasioun, 676
Meuyng no quarellis, causyng no discencioun,
Nor cleyme nothyng which hard is to recure,
Sithe in good mene men lengest may endure.
pe tit on Pryncis, remembreth in your most mageste, 680
should re, Envie of clymbyng causith diuisioun.
fe eee ot Beth of accord, trustith* no comounte,
causes only Which, at a poynt, is but decepcioun,
community is And specialli fleeth symulacioun. 684
to be trusted. Ye may in Marcus seen a pleyn figure,
Which for ambicioun myhte no while endure.
[How Neptanabus kyng of Egipt / was by xerses
constreyned to fle his kyngdam. |!
etl FFTIR the fall of Marcus Manlius,
penn eed Bochas anon gan his stile dresse 688
king of Egypt, Breeffli to telle of Neptanabus,
Kyng of Egipt, and of his gret richesse,
Seyng afforn[e], in al his noblesse
Bi vnkouth crafft, how he ne myhte chese, 692
That in al haste his crowne he sholde lese.
wrrology that” FOr he was kunmyng in especial, —
he should lose And riht expert, as maad is mencioun,
is kingdom. : ig ?
In alle the sciences callid liberal, 696
And knew afforn bi calculacioun
How God wolde make a transmygracioun
Of his kyngdam, & pleynli to reporte,
The lond of Perse to Grekis ful transporte. 700
Kone. he” For bi kyng Zerses out of his cuntre, _
went to Greece Maupre his tresor, his cunyng & his miht,
as a magician 5
This Neptanabus constreyned was to flee,
Durste nat abide to haue of hym a siht. 704
And into Grece he drouh hym anon mht,
Nat lik a kyng, but aftir old writyngis,
Lik a magicien he wrouhte wonder thynges.
677. quarell H — 2nd no]om.H, R 3, H 5, P.
682. trustith] trust on B, R 3, trustin H 5, P.
693. lese] om. R.
704. of hym to have H.
1 MS. J. leaf 88 recto.
BK. Iv |
Vpon fortune ferther to proceede,
Bi his kunyng he gretli forthered was,
And bi his sleihti werkyng eek in deede
He was aqueynted with queen Olympias,
And so secre, pleynli this the caas, |
That upon hir, men seide be deemyng,
Gat Alisaundre, the grete myhti kyng.
But how he fledde out of his regioun,
Of his images nor his illusiouns
Bochas mak[e]th no maner mencioun,
Nor how he wrouhte be incantaciouns,
Nor of his sotil operaciouns,
Nor how that he, lik a man, be nihte
Whilom appeered in the queenys sihte.
Sauf of his deth[e], Bochas wnt mht nouht,
Remembryng nouther the tyme nor the date,
How Alisaundre and he* togidre han souht
The cours of sterris toward eue late,
And how his sone, lik as was his fate,
Doun from a bregge bi ful mortal wrak
Cast hym bakward, & so his nekke brak.
The Exile of Pausantas, Duke of Sparta 493
[p. 217] 708 and epee
intimate with
Olympias,
that men said
Alexander was
. his son.
712
But Bochas
— not ae
about cither
716 FP aight of
his incantations,
or how he
appeared like a
man by night
to the queen.
720
He wrote only
of his death,
and how
please
threw him
724 off a bridge and
broke his neck.
728
[How Pausonoy Duk of Lacedemoyne was exiled
by them of Athenys. |! °
HIS was his ende, & aftir this Bochas
Gan in al haste his stile [to] auaunce
Of Pausonyos to tell the pitous caas,
And al the maner of his woful chaunce.
Which was a duk, & hadde in goueraunce
Lacedemoyne, ther foundyng a cite
Which of old tyme was callid Bisante.
Thei of Athenys that cite gat with myht
And it conquered bi ther cheualrie;
And aftirward, wher it wer wrong or mht,
Thei exiled the same Pausanye.
716. nor] norofH. 720. nihte] myht R.
724. Alisaundre and he] he and Alisaundre B, R, J, P
725. euen R.
Pausanias, duke
of Sparta,
732
was exiled by
736 the Athenians
and ended his
life in poverty
and sorrow.
730. tolom. J, R Rs H s, P, tavaunce Add.
731. peueance H, R 3, Pausonois R, J, Pausonyos H 5, Pausa-
nias
736. gat] gret R.
: 1 MS. J. leaf 88 recto.
494 Heliarchus who was slain by Leonides [ BK. Iv
And thus Fortune thoruh hir fals envie
Caused that duk, withoute mor delaies,
In sorwe and pouert for to eende his daies.
749
[How Heliarchus the tirant for extorcion and oppres-
sion, was slayn, by the knight Leonydes. | !
eee fret IR the fal[le] sothli of thes tweyne,
all Feasts Iohn Bochas was meued of corage
is tyranny, : 3 oS.
For to reherse with al his bisi peyne
The grete furie & thodious rage
Of Heliarchus, which bi gret outrage,
Thouh he nat was famous in cheualrie,
He noied al Perse witb his tirannye.
Bochas became Wherfor Bochas gan at hym disdeyne,
resolved to, Caste he wolde, onli for his sake,
Grass Touche of tirauntes mo than on or tweyne,
And bi wntyng geyn* hem a werre make.
And in his hande he gan a penne take,
Tolde in ordre the pereilous pestilence
Which thei wrouhte bi mortal violence.
declaring. _ First he declareth how Fortune of riht,
had good cause Apeyn tirantis furious & wood,
to shew her
power against Hath ful [good] cause for to shewe hir myht,
Tappalle ther dignites in which* thei stood, —
Such as reioysshe for to sheede blood,
Do nat ellis but laboure & deuise
To spoille the peeple in many sondri wise.
Renal eee And Heliarchus thoruh his cruelte,
of a city called And his contryued fals extorsiouns
eraclea, and
brought the Was mortal enmy to a fair cite
to mischiel ” Callid Heraclie, & many othir touns.
And bi [his] extort fals oppressiouns,
As the deede concluded, at a preeff,
Al that contre* he brouhte to myscheeff.
740. hir} his R.
743. falle] falls H. 745. For] & for H.
753. ageyn B. — 759. _good] om. in? R, P.
760. which] which that] B, R, J, H
760. which] which that B, R, J; He P
764. Elearchus P. 767. Heraclie] liarchie H
770. contre] countee B — to] vn to S.
1 MS. J. leaf 88 recto.
744
748
752
750
764
768
BK. IV | The Story of Dionysius the Tyrant 495
Turnyng his grace & fauour to hatreede, he eo eal
Merci & pite onto cruelte, 772 fovorns theis
Fraunchise of peeplis to seruitute & dreede, he was hated
by everyone.
Oppressid ther fredam & ther old liberte.
And all ther statutis, bi which thei wer maad fre,
He interupted of force & nat of mht, 776
Which made hym odious in eueri mannys siht.
But to restreyne his grete extorsiouns pier
Fortune this while was nat rek[e]les: sbomunable
For his hornble abhomynaciouns 780 through a good
She gan tauale hym, this goddesse merciles, Leonides, who
Bi a good kniht callid Leonides, Tot weneeaate
Which with a felawe born of that contre and See ee
Cast on this tiraunt auengid for to bee. 784
Thei dempte it was an almesse deede,
To sette ther lond in quiete & in ese,
Of a tirant the furious blood to sheede,
His inportable malis for tappese, 788
Which to ther cite dede so gret disese.
And of assent, with ther suerdis keene
Thei slouh the tiraunt in ther mortal teene.
Of whos deth many a man was fayn, _—[p. 218] 792 Nev uaa‘of bis
And specialli of Heracle the cite, death.
Dempte it was meedful that he was so slayn,
To sette in quiete al a comounte.
Loo, heer men may the nihtful guerdoun see 796
Of tirauntis, which bi ther violence
Toppresse the peeple ha[ue] no conscience!
[How the vicious Denys kyng of Cicile slouh his
brethre and kynrede, and aftir exiled deied at
mischeff. | !
FFTIR this trraunt, witb a ful heuy cheere ect
And contenaunce pitous and lamentable, —_ 800 miss
Onto Bochas Denys dede appeere, Syracuse,
Which in tirannye was most importable,
Thoruh [al] his land hatful and repreuable.
But, for al that, he gan myn auctour preie 804
Of his maneres sumwhat to write & seie.
785. elmesse R.
801. Dionise P.
MS. J. leaf 88 verso.
496 The Story of Dionysius the Tyrant [BK. Iv
but Bochas ~~ Bochas list nat rehersen his lynage
take the trouble Nor make no processe of his geneallogie,
to mention his 2 2
lineage, because Because he was, with al his gret outrage,
he was so full . . :
of all vices. Ful of alle vices, pride and lecherie,
Of auarice, of ire and of envie.
In Cecile he heeld his roial see
At Siracusis, a myhti strong cite.
Carsed and = This Denys was cursed of nature,
nature, he slew Most malicious bothe of thouht & deede;
that he might For, as it is remembrnid in scripture,
rule alone . .
undisturbed. He slouh his brethre, his cosyns & kynreede,
That he allone myhte in pes posseede
Withoute trouble or interupcioun
Of al Cecile the myhti regioun.
Hewat Among his* vices, Bochas doth specefie,
idle, licentious Ay
anda drunkard, He pan drawen onto idilnesse,
Folwede his lustis of foul lecherie,
And ofte of custum he fill in dronkenesse,
And thouhte it was most souereyn blissidnesse,
Lik as he hadde be maister of Fortune,
To folwe his lustis & ay theryn contune.
and jpecame ., He wex riht fat & wonder corcious,
aoe wa we And his eien gan derken of ther siht,
and aliens = That vnnethe this man most vicious
Se ee. Ne miht nat weel beholde the daies liht.
inbabitants of And of malis this tiraunt ageyn riht,
With helpe of robbours & of fals foreyns,
Slouh of his cite nih al the citeseyns.
Although itis Hig vicious lyff in ordre to reherse
unpleasant
to hear or bs ° .
tovhear or |. Wer contagious to the audience;
vicious life, | His extort pillages wrouhte in Grece & Perse, —
I shall e e
briefly relate For to write or telle hem in sentence
how he made
hie men despo] Wolde infecte the heir with pestilence.
a large number But I wil breefli remembryn & descryue
of women of
their garments 1 1 i
theis garments The sacrileges which he dede his lyue.
at Cythera, Tn. Venus temple beside Citheroun
A gret[e] noumbre of wommen he leet call,
Ful weel beseyn; and be oppressioun
He made his meyne vnwarli on hem fall.
820. his] all B, R, J, P. 826. theryn] ther H.
806. he] this R. 816. 2nd his] om. H.
833. the] his H.
812
816
820
828
832
836
844
BK. Iv |
Dispoiled them, so that on and all
Bi his outrage and froward violence,
Thei naked stood echon in his presence.
And whan he sauh ther shap & ther fetures,
And ches such out as wer to his plesaunce,
The Story of Dionysius the Tyrant
497
and after he
848 looked them
over and
chose such as
Robbyng the remnaunt, took from them per vestures pleased him,
And leet hem goon withoutyn ordenaunce.
And for this vnkouth abhomynable chaunce
Ther cite Locrois aros with myhti hond,
For his outrage banshyng hym ther lond.
Another tyme he dide also soiourne
Withyne the temple, lik as it is told,
Of Iubiter, sone onto Saturne. |
Ther beholdyng his reliques manyfold,
Sauh among other a mantel large of gold,
Wherupon whan he caste his look,
That riche iewel onto his eus he took.
And thus he saide, hymseluen to excuse, —
“It was to heuy and to comerous
In somer sesoun that mantel for to vse,
Because it was to large & ponderous.”
And ouermor he aleggid for hym thus:
“Sithe the garnement forgid was of gold,
For wynter sesoun how it was to cold.”
And whan he gan awey the mantel pulle,
Than riht anon this tiraunt deceyuable
Gaff hym another sengle maad of wolle,
Affermede, sothli it was mor couenable, —
To other sesoun mor meete and agreable,
Concludyng thus: “for somer it was liht,*
And warm for wyntir to were the frosti niht.”
Another tyme, this tiraunt eek also, [p. 219]
Which was of herte most auaricious,
Entrid onys the temple of Appollo
And of his sone Esculapius.
And whan this tiraunt fel & contrarious
Beheld Appollo berdles, that was old,
And Esculapius with a berd* of gold,
854. banysshyng H.
861. vse H.
869. mantel] matil H.
874. liht] to liht B, R, J.
876. R omits to line 2212 inclusive.
sent the rest
away naked.
852
Once when he
saw mn 7
temple o
856 Japiters mantle
of gold among
the god’s
possessions,
860
he said that it
was too heavy
for summer and
not warm
864 enough for
winter, and
took it for
himeelf,
868
leaving in
exchange a
singlet made of
wool, which he
affirmed was
light enough
872 for summer and
warm for
winter.
Another time
he saw a
statue of
Apollo with a
smooth chin and
an Asculapius
wearing a
beard of gold;
Oo
n
87
88
882. long berd B, J.
498 . An Envoy on Tyrants (BK. IV
and, saying that Quod Denys thanne, “‘as seemeth onto me,
that the father Heer is a straunge froward convenyence, 884
beardiess, pulled That the fader berdles sholde be,
away ‘ ‘ ‘
Esculapiue’ The sone berdid stonde in his presence.”
en is e ° e
and made of Made anon bi sturdi violence
oe To take awey the berd, which in his siht 888
Of most fyn gold shon so cleer & briht.
Wherever he |, Thoruh Grece and Perse wher-euer he dede gon,
the temples, = In al the templis this was his vsaunce:
thief, The statli reliques with many riche ston 892
And massiff tablis of myhti gret substaunce,
To take them alle that wer to his plesaunce.
He spared non; thus lyuyng lik a theef
Til he be vengaunce was brouht [vn]to myscheeff. 896
yotil the | jad Syracusanys, wher he was crowned kyng,
enough of his 1
enough of his | Alle of assent, ther is no mor to seyne,
banished him, For his outragis & vicious lyuyng,
and he di .
a fugitive. | Thei ban[y]shed hym neuer to kome ageyn. 900
And so this tiraunt, vacaunt, wente in veyn
Aboute the world as a fals fugityff;
And so at myscheeff this Denys loste his lyff.
[Lenvoy. ]
This tra ' '
EN ala HIS tragedie yiueth a warnyng _ 904
See To alle] tho that haue domynacioun
pillagers and Quer the peeple, prince, duk or kyng,
tyrants. ;
Teschewe rauyne and fals extorsioun.
Bit them considre, how bi thoccasioun 908
Of foul pillage & froward tirannye
This said Denys at myscheef muste die.
Dionysius slew
indwermmatey First he compassed, falsli imagynyng,
and rejoiced in To slen the citeseyns of his roial toun, 912
robbery and ‘ ;
murder; His brethre, his cosyns, his kynrede nat sparyng,
Brouht al his blood onto destruccioun,
In slauhtre he hadde such delectacioun,
Reioisshyng euere in moordre & robberie, 916
Which caused hym at myscheef for to die.
884. froward convenyence] disconvenyence H.
gos. tho] om. H.
O11. This stanza is misplaced next to the last one of the Enooy H
— First he] He also H.
BK.Iv] The Foolishness and Sin of Presumption 499
To spoille templis was most his reioysshyng, replete iad ae
Took al ther tresours to his pocessioun, in spoiling |
; : emples an
Tablis of gold with stonys fressh shynyng; 920 the gods of their
Eek fro the* goddis the reliques he took doun
Wher-euer he rod in any regioun.
Whos sacrilege & compassed felonie
Caused hym vnwarli in myscheeff for to die. 924
In Venus temple, be record of writyng, aa the comple
He dede a foul froward abusioun, foully stripped
e gen ewomen
Al gentil-women that cam ther to offryng, of their
Them he dispoiléd, as maad is mencioun, 928 let them go
Leet hem go naked, withoute excepcioun. hecwas
For which diffame & gret vngent[e]rie_ died i mischie.
He banshed was & dede in myscheef die. ieipad bdo
; : ch behavi
Noble Pryncis, remembreth on this thyng: 932 has a eco”
en es
Compassed malis & fals collusioun
Mut haue euel eende* & come to rek[e]nyng,
Fraude ay with fraude resceyueth his guerdoun.
Hath this in mynde, concludyng on resoun, 936
That all tirauntis, pleynli to specefie,
Hadde heer short lyff or dede at myscheeff die.
q Thauctour ageyn presumpcious [peple and] Princis
halding pem-self goddis.
E folk that been astonid in your auys Aah iren th
To seen tirauntes bat wer* incorrigible Gio * morielc
Left from ther sees, bat held hemsilf* so wis, eemed them-
Thouhte ther poweer was verray inuyncible, invincible,
Thouh tofor God nothyng is inpossible; eee ical:
Wherfor remembreth, & doth nothyng meruaile, 944
With vnwar fallis thouh Fortune hem assaile.
For whan tirauntis been sette on hih[e] stages aceon ie
Off dignites, regnyng lik wood leouns, emipoeenbie ito
Ful harde it is to wresten ther corages 948
Outher to tempre ther disposiciouns.
Worldl: felicite so blyndeth ther resouns,
921. the] ther B, J.
934. eende] eendyng B, endyng J, ending P.
939. Ibe omission in the beading ts supplied from J, leaf 89 recto.
940. wer] been
B.
941. held hemsilf] hemsilf held B, hem helde J.
500 The Story of Polycrates, another Tyrant [ BK. IV
As thei to God wer egal of poweer,
And hadde Fortune vnder ther daungeer. 952
One need only Record of Denys, that ofte was affraied [p. 220]
Dionysius, Bassaut of Fortune, lik as was his fate,
For vicious lyuyng thre tymes disamaied,
As his stori remembreth of old date. 956
[Q] Next on the ryng now kometh Pollicrate
With oon Victurbius, tirauntis of Itaille,
Regnyng lik wolues toppressen the poraille.
Folycrates and For whan tirauntis in dyuers regiouns 960
tyrants of 1
Vilywko Of surquedie cachche an oppynyoun,
reigned like That ther estatis & domynaciouns
wolves; an
when such mea Sholde euere endure bi long successioun,
believe in their
pride that God As Godde nor Fortune myhte nat putte hem doun, 964
down, °™ But as thei wern in ther estat roiall
This world to reule, to bothe too egall.
and, having lost [First] toward God thei ha[ue] lost shame & dreed
all shame and : oe
dread, laugh “Touchynng his guerdouns outher of ioie or peyne, 968
at Fortune,
Indifferent atween trouthe or falsheed, —
Ther lust Iserued; no fors who lauhhe or pleyne.
God is forgetyn; at Fortune thei disdeyne,
As bothe wern recleymed to ther lure, 972
Falsli transcendyng the boundis of mesure.
sometimes God For which sumtyme, as bookes specefie,
allows her to
favour them for God list suffre, as maad is mencioun,
a time, as if
she really were That Fortune bi a maner moquerie 976
willing to °
accomplish their Fauoureth summe folk, lik ther oppynyoun
Saree Tenhaunce ther poweer bi fals decepcioun,
As she wer set, pleynli for to seie,
To serue ther lust & durst nat disobeie. 980
[How kyng Pollicrate for extorcion and tirannye
was honged til euery ioynt went from othir. |!
Tinenese the ECORD I take on proude Pollicrate,
case with
Polycrates, Tiraunt of Sammois, beside be se Egge,
tyrant 5 e
Samos, Which sore laboured erli & eek late,
Ageyn conscience, of furious cruelte, 984
953. Dionise P. 957. No indication of new 4 in MSS.
967. First] om. J.
971. forgotten P — Fortune] om. J.
975. list] list nat H.
982. Samos P.
MS. J. leaf 89 verso.
BK. Iv | Polycrates and bis Ring 501
Tabounde in richesse & for to ha[ue] plente
Of worldli tresours, deemyng that Fortune ay
To his desirs ne durste nat sey nay.
Fortune to hym bi many dyuers signe 88 wnem sg
Shewed outward gret toknis of plesaunce, oo ADY ce
Was to hym eek mht fauourable & benigne appeared almost
In al hir port bamaner attendaunce, sat his) power.
As she hadde been vnder his obeissaunce 992
To stuffe his coffres witb tresours lokked faste, .
Of fals entent to mokke hym atte laste.
Alle worldli richesse his lustis dede obeie; Pe ate
And whan he forid she was so fauourable, 996 when he was,
For a sesoun, as she that list to pleie, at the table of
This blynde goddesse, vnseur & euere* vnstable, aeades give
Set hym so hih[e] up at Famys table, aa
Of fals entent, in his estat roiall 1000
Whan he sat hiest to make hym haue a fall.
For in hymsilff of pride he gan to deeme He thought in
4 : his pride that he
How that he stood most in prosperite was an equal
: of the gods,
Of them that wered crowne or diadeeme, 1004
Aboue al other in most felicite.
And thus enhaunsed in his roial see,
Thouhte hym egal with goddis in comvne,
Fer from al daunger of Fate or of Fortune. 1008
And for tatempte of goddis the poweer, thee power”
And of Fortune the variaunt doubilnesse, and the
: oubleness of
He took a ryng of gold ful bnht & cleer, Fortuna, he
e e 1
Theryn a rubi of excellent richesse, * 1or2 into the sea,
Sekyng occasioun of sum newe heuynesse,
Which neuer afforn hadde knowe of no such thyng, —
Into the se anon he cast his ryng,
Dise[s]peired ageyn [it] to recure, ror6 2ot hoping ever
For he dempte it was an inpossible. ea
But nhte anon fissheres of auenture, soon afterwards
Lik a meruaile verray incredible, ofa
Among the wawes hidous & hornble 1020 and his carver”
Caste in ther nettis, yiff it wolde auaile, oes
Takyng a fissh, the ryng in his entraille.
998. & euere] euere & B.
999. so hihe up at] hih upon H. _ 1004. or] of H.
1008. al] al be H — 2nd of] om. J — or] & H.
1012. richesse} rednesse B, J.
502 The outrageous Presumption of Polycrates (BK. Iv
Which was presented at a solempnite
To Pollicrate with ful gret reuerence, 1024
Whan he sat crowned in his most dignite
At a feeste of famous excellence.
The fissh vndon anon in his presence,
Mid thentrailles his keruere fond the ryng 1028
Of auenture, & took it to the kyng.
pach made Which dempte of pride and hih presumpcioun,
Ree eat, That Neptunvs, god of the salte se,
daring to ofleod Hadde of his ryng maad restitucioun, 1032
had restored to And durste nat offende his mageste.
me 828" Wherupon a fantasie kauht he,
Nouther heuenli goddis no[r] Fortune blynde of siht
Wer bothe vnhardy tatempte ageyn his myht. _ 1036
But God and His gret outrage to God was nat vnknowe; [p. 221]
ovareo” hu quand his presumpcioun Fortune hath weel espied,
threw him down For which she maad aduersite been[de] hir bowe,
expected it. | And of hir wheel the spokes she hath so guyed, 1040
Wheron he sat most richeli magnefied,
That he vnwarli doun from his hih noblesse
Was brouht ful lowe in sorwe & wrechchidnesse.
Fortune is = In worldly* glorie nothyng is mor to dreede, — 1044
never more to
be feared than [han whan Fortune is most blandisshyng,
most smiling. And that hir flatri is fret with worldli meede,
Hih on hir wheel to make foolis synge;
Than of hir nature sorwe she doth [in] brynge, — 1048
Witnesse of princis, of olde or newe date,
And record also of proude Pollicrate.
Her temple is Sumtyme he sat hih on Fortunys wheel,
made of glass, : .
pot steel, and Of prosperite with bemys cleer shynyzg, 1052
apiece Whos temple is maad of glas & nat off steel;
Hir* cristal yys vnwarli dissoluyng,
_ Thouh it be fressh outward in shewyng,
Vnseur to stonde on, & brotil for tabide, 1056
Who trusteth most, most likli is to slide.
ernst beeen Lhis gerissh queen, of cheer & face double,
a waron Samos, Withdrouh hir fauour & began to varie
Fro Pollicrates, sette hym in sorwe & trouble, _ 1060
Wex ageyn hym maliciousli contrarie,
1028. be Entraile H, the entrail R 3.
1040. hir wheel] his queeleH. ae
1044. worldly] wordlis B, J — glorieJioy P. 1054. Hir] His B.
BK. Iv] The shameful Death of Polycrates
Causyng Orontes, constable with kyng Darie,
Maugre this tiraunt in his most cruelte,
To gynne a werre on Sammoys his cite.
And whan his glorie was most cleer of liht,
And his noblesse shon hiest atte fulle,
Fortune gan thoruh hir chaungable myht
Of his prosperite the fethris for to pull.
And thanne at erst his corage gan to dull,
And alle his pride vnwarli for tappalle,
Whan he was spoilled of his richessis alle.
First whan Orontes his contre gan assaill,
This Pollicrate of sodeyn auenture
Outraied was & taken in bataill
Bi a full pereilous mortal disconfiture.
Thus koude Fortune bryngen him* to lure
Thoruh hir vnwar, ougli, fals disdeynes,
Lad into* prisoun & bounde in stronge cheynis.
The peeple [that] duelte withynne his regeoun
Reioisshed in herte to seen hym suffre peyne.
His tirannye, his fals extorsioun
Caused that thei dede at hym disdeyne;
For of his deth{e] no man list compleyne.
503
1064
and when Poly-
crates’ glory
shone brightest,
Fortune began
to pull the
feathers of
1068 his prosperity.
He was taken
1072 in battle and
chained in
prison;
1076
and because he
nae a tyrant,
is subjects
1080 were glad to
see him suffer.
Men thoruh the wor[I]d be glad & ha[ue] plesaunce 1084
To seen a tiraunt brouht onto myschaunce.
Foure thynges his tormentes dede aumente:
Sodeyn departyng from his old richesse,
And that he sauh ech man in his entente
Of his myscheef ha[ue] so gret gladnesse;
Hanged he was, myn auctour berth witnesse,
And heeng so long in tempest, reyn & thonder,
Til eueri 1oynt from other went assonder.
To beestis wilde & foulis* rauynous,
Naked he heeng; such was his auenture:
To alle folk he was so odious,
Had in despiht off euery creature,
At his departyng denied sepulture, —
1065. lihe] sihe H.
1068. for] om. H.
1071. ric
1076.
1078.
1086.
1093.
esse
onto B. 1079. that] om. J.
his torments this Tiraunt H.
foulis | folkis B, J.
He lost his
great posses-
sions and saw
that men
rejoiced at
his fall; and
after that, he
was hanged.
1088
1092
So odious he
was to all
folk, that they
even denied
him a decent
burial.
1096
fortune koude bryngen hir B, fortune coude bringen him J.
504 The Murder of Callisthenes by Alexander [BK. IV
Guerdoun for tirauntis vengable & rekles,
That kannat suffre the peeple to lyue in pes.
aut may, Thus may tirauntis excedyn[g] ferr ber boundis 1100
tyrants, who
resemble cruel Bi fals outrage, ful weel resembled be
ther reward To cruel woluys or to furious houndis,
Polycrates. § Fret with an etik of gredi cruelte.
To staunche ther hunger auaileth no plente. 1104
Which for ther surfetis, froward for to reede,
With Pollicrates in helle shal ha{ue] ther meede.
[How the tiraunt Alisaundre/ slouh his philosophre
Calistenes with othir for seyng trouthe. | !
te MONG alle stories to tell be pitous caas
eens Of woful pleyntiffs bat put hemsilf in pres 1108
dismembered Wath weepyng eyen, myn auctour Iohn Bochas
for his fidelity, ;:
Was meued in herte nat to be rek[e]les
To wnite the falle of Calistenes, —
[The] which, alas, as it is remembred, 1112
Was for his trouthe on pecis al dismembred.
and thought For whan Bochas his story gan aduerte,
that even a
man with a s ° °
man with a = He dempte anon in his fantasie,
would be | | No man hadde so harde a stonen herte, 1116
moved by it to ‘ * ‘ .
tears. That mihte of nht his eyen keepen drie,
To seen the processe of his tormentrie.
Yit gan myn auctour his woful penne proffre
To write the wrong don to this philisophre. 1120
Callisthenes, = This Calistenes, in youthe riht weel thewed,
virtuous in
youth, devoted Flis greene age promotid to doctryne,
is best years
to philosophy, Bi influence of heuenli fate adewed,
Gretli to profhte in moral disciplyne, 1124
Disposid of nature bi grace, which is dyuyne,
To conquere, as bookis specefie,
The noble surname of philosophie.
at wise Of his merites, famous & notable, 1128
breasts he was
fed, and to ~— Philosophie dede hir besi peyne
whose milk no
earthly balm To yiue hym souke, because that he was able,
may
compared. § The soote mylk of hir brestis tweyne,
Most precious licour, who myhte therto atteyne: 1132
1100. exceden J.
1111. Calisthenes P.
1112. The] om. J.
1 MS. J. leaf 90 recto.
BK.Iv| Tbe Murder of Callistbenes by Alexander 505
For bawme is non, the vertu weel declared,
Of worldli richesse may be therto compared.
This precious pyment is youe vnto no foolis, ocd
Aboue all licours it doth so ferre excell, 1136 doncen and aise
Whos origynal sprang in the hooli scoolis rapes
Of Athenys, as famous bookis tell; Callisthenes
For of philosophie ther sprang out first be well, eters
Wher Calistenes, thexperience 1s kouth, 1140
With fulsum plente was fostred in his youth.
Thouh he was bor[e]n of a good lynage, Bee ani
Vertu maad hym mor hih up for tascende, ese cay coat
To been enhaunsed for noblesse of corage 1144 even higher:
Moor than for blood[e], who can comprehende:
For philisophres & clerkis mor commende
The moral vertues entresoured be writyngis,
Than al the tresours of worldli crowned kynges. 1148
Of gentil stokkes rekne out the issues, thatehenlaey
That be descendid doun from a roial lyne: mise
Yif bei be vicious & void of al vertues
And hal[ue] no tarage of vertuous disciplyne, 1152
With temporal tresour thouh thei florshe & shyne,
As for a tyme sittyng on hih[e] stages,
Withoute vertu thei ar but ded images.
For thouh princis ha[ue] conquered be bataille = 1156 Thoush princes
conquer the
This world in roundnesse bi ther cheualrie, el by bares
What may ther tryumphes or noblesse auaille, avail litde
Withoute that vertu be riht ther titles guye, guided by
To be compared vnto philosophie? 1160
For philisophres applie al ther ententis
To knowe heuene & cours of elementis.
Philosophers do
not care for
Thei sette no stoor of thynges transitorie,
Nor of Fortunys expert doubilnesse; 1164 transitory
. - ‘ things, but turn
To heuenli thynges is set al ther memorie, to the seven
° planets, the
How the seuene planetes in ther cours hem dresse, mothers of
Meuyng of sterris, sparklyng in ther brihtnesse, pee
With reuoluciouns of the speeris nyne, 1168
Moodres of musik, as auctours determyne.
And in the noble tweyne famous housis Kee aay
Flouryng in Grece, richest of euerichon, the bright
° é ; anterns of the
Cald bi old date the faire trewe spousis 1172 world.
1135. is}was H. 1166. ther] be H.
506 The great Excellence of Callisthenes
Of philisophres, many mo than oon,
In Achademye & in Athenys shon
The briht lanternis of most reuerencis,
This world tenlumyne bi liberall sciences.
Callisthenes = And among other this Calistenes
schools of , Was in his youthe put for to scoleie
Plato, who held In the too scooles of prudent Socrates
pecret, mysteries And of Plato, which that bar the keie
divine idea, Of secre mysteries & of dyvyn Ideie.
In which too scooles of gret habilite
Was non profhted halff so moch as he.
and had , _ These olde clerkis, these too philisophres
hidden within Wer in tho daies for doctrine souereyne
Callid in this world the riche precious coffres
And tresoreris, that kepte the chestis tweyne
Amyd ther brestis, wheryn God ded ordeyne,
Most cleer pocessioun put in ther depos,
Of alle sciences vnder a keye cloos.
ne of Lhis Calistenes, scoleer & auditour
Aristotle, who Of Aristotiles, bi kunnyng conqueryng
chose him to
attend | = The noble gemme & the most precious flour
"Of philosophie, al flour[e]s surmountyng,
Wherthoruh he was chose in his lyuyng,
As his maister list for hym prouide,
On Alisandre tawaiten & abide.
when Alcrander For Alisaundre, of kynges most enteere
atked him to
sendhima And most worthi, to speke of hih prowesse,
philosopher to f : :
magnify his [ede Anstotiles humbeli requere,
conquests by . . °
good counsel, To prouide & doon his bisynesse
to record his
triumphs, Bi expert knowyng & auysynesse
To sende hym oon, which of philosophie
Mihte bi good counsail his conquest magnefie.
[ BK. IV
1176
1180
1184
1188
1192
1196
1200
1204
andtodirect ‘To write also his tryumphes digne of glorie [p. 223]
bim in moral d zi :
virtue. And to remembre his actis marciall,
Put his palmys of knihthod in memonie,
And to directen in especiall
His roial noblesse in vertu morall,
That non errour be sey[e]n heer nor there
In hym that sholde al the world conquere.
1178. for] forth H, R3—scoleys H. 1180. keys H.
1181. Ideies H.
1210. be] wer H. 1211. the] this H.
1208
BK. Iv |
But it fill so of knihtli auenture,
That of Fortunis hih promocioun,
That he bi armys proudli gan recure
Of Perse and Mede the myhti regioun,
Brouhte kyng Darie onto subieccioun,
Alexander's Aspiration to be a God
507
But after his
1212 conquest of the
Medes and
Persians,
1216
Gat hool his tresour, that no man myhte expresse
Tacounte the noumbre of his gret nichesse.
Which vnseur tresour & slidyng habundaunce,
With wastyng shadwes of godis transitorie,
In surquedous pride gan so his herte auaunce
Bi fals ambicioun & outraious veynglorie,
That made hym lese mynde & eek memorie,
To knowe of nature he was no man mortall,
But lik to goddis that wer celestiall.
Aboue the palme of old[e] conquerours,
Knihtli tryumphes, conquestis marcial,
He vsurped be title of his labours
To heuenli goddis for to been egal.
And thoruh his merites most imperiall,
He gan presume be lyne he was allied
With the seuene goddis for to be deified.
Thoruh al his paleis & his roial halle
A lawe he sette, upon peyne of lyff,
That men of custum sholde hym name & calle
This worldis* monarke, nat mortal nor passiff,
Sone to Iubiter for a prerogatyff,
Alexander grew
Proud and,
no longer
1220 considering
himself a mortal
man,
1224
aspired to be an
equal of the
seven gods of
heaven ne q
presumed to be
1228 ietied,
1232
He ordained
that men should
call him the
son of Jupiter,
1236
Which hadde the erthe, as god most of puissaunce,
Conquered bi swerd onto his obeissaunce.
Bi ful auys purposed for the nonys,
Of pompous outrage & surquedous entente,
Ful gret tresor of gold & precious stonis
Vnto the temple of Iubiter he sente,
That the bisshoppis & preestis sholde assente
Hym to resceyue at his hom komyng
Lik as a god, & lik no mortal kyng.
Thus bextort dreed & bi vsurpid myht
Was first brouht in foul idolatrie,
Causyng pryncis to resceyue ageyn mht
Godli reuerence of froward maumetnie.
But whan Calistenes this errour dede espie
1221. auaunce] enhaunce H, enhance R 3, H 5.
1222. outraious] contagious H.
1236. Thes wordis H — wordlis B.
and bribed the
1240 priests to
receive him as
a god.
1244
Thus idolatry
eee
ut when
1248 Callisthenes
saw Alexander’s
error, he
endeavored to
correct it.
1246. kyng] thyng H, P.
508 Alexander's Aspiration to be a God [BK. Iv
In Alisaundre, he bisili dide entende 1252
This fals oppynyoun to correcte & amende. ~
Five probe Bi fyue causes, notable to reherse,
ce was only _ This Calistenes in especial,
Thouh he was kyng of Egipt, Mede & Perse, _1256
He preued of resoun he was a man mortall,
His berthe eek erthli & nat celestiall,
Fader, moodet as of ther natures
Born for to deie lik other creatures. 1260
His father = His fader Phelipp, of Macedoyne kyng,
far a'y His mooder callid Olympiades,
no respect, Worldli folk & heuenli [in] no thyng,
estial, and ‘ ; : er
both of ‘them With kyngis, queenis upset bi hih encres. 1264
Yit ageyn deth thei koude ha[ue] no reles,
Lawes of nature maugre ther will tobeie,
Nat lik goddis, but onli born to deie.
They were
subicet to Kynde made hem subiect to sundri passiouns —1268
yagcugeastions And many vnkouth dyuers infirmytes,
and nothing Now glad, now heuy of condiciouns,
on earth but Folwyng the fourme of ther humanytes.
dread. But of ther false vsurpede dietes, 1272
I can nat seyn, sauff dreed & flat[eJrie
Wrongli in erthe dede hem deifie.
feet tor a) Lek Alisaundre folwyng euere his lust,
bispower, For al his lordshepe & his gret[e] myht, 1276
the passions of He suffred passiouns of hunger & of thrust,
health and ° °
sickness. Now hool, now sik, now heuy and now liht.
Whos entrechaungyng in euery mannys siht
Cleerli shewed, cleerkis reherse kan, 1280
He was no god, but lik a mortal man.
vase he Pecame Te fill onys, myn auctour doth compile,
bathin in the_In a gret heete, long or he was old,
bead ane He bathed hymsilff[e] in the flood of Nile, 1284
"Wher of fortune he sodenli took cold:
His pooris opnede on parties manyfold,
Lay long aftir, his story berth witnesse,
Or he was curid of that gret seeknesse. 1288
and when final’'y But at the laste, bi crafft of medecyne [p. 224]
he recovered, it
hrough
was through Delyuered he was of that infirmyte,
not divine = Nothyng amendid bi his power dyuyne,
tla Bi myht of Iuno nor Iubiteres pouste, 1292
1264. upset bi] set upto H. 1277. 2nd of] oft H.
BK. Iv | Alexander rebuked by Callisthenes 509
Nor bi his owne vsurpid deite:
For bi the passiouns which he dede endure,
It shewed he was a dedli creature.
Off hym also it is maad mencioun, 1296 He aleo had a
: : habit of getting
He hadde in custum to falle in dronkenesse, drunk and
° g acting like a
Thoruh vinolence loste ofte his resoun; madman, which
e ; was hardly a
Than of ire and furious hastynesse proof, of
He wolde smyte & hurte in his woodnesse. 1300
Which toknys wern, pleynli to termyne,
In his persone nat heuenli nor dyuyne.
Whan the philisophre callid Calistenes told Alctandis
Gan first considre al thes condiciouns ago: So teks sings
In Alisandre, he put hymsilff in pres, dissembling.
Void of dissymulyng or long* dilaciouns,
For to reffourme such fals ambiciouns
Of godly honours, * which men dede on hym feyne,1308
And from all vices his corage to restreyne.
In this purpos as eny centre stable, bie the Weare
He cast hym fulli of trewe entencioun of a champion.
To correcte al that was repreuable 1312
Vsid in his persone or in his regeoun.
Trouthe gaff hym herte lik a champioun,
To telle the kyng in his estat roial,
He was no god, but as a man mortal. 1316
For which the kyng of indignacioun oo.
Kauhte a quarel ageyn Calistenes, anery, at he
Put upon hym vniustli fals tresoun, Callstienevet
e ° e n
Onli to slen his maister causeles. 1320 slay him,
And for tateynte hym, affor{n] al the pres
Saide how he hadde of his iniquite
Conspired ageyn his roial mageste.
d also said
And feyned also, the silue same tyme, 1324 very untruth-
How he had maad a conspiracioun fully that Callis-
: : thenes had
Ageyn his lord, bi an horrible cryme intericueg vari
‘ e religion
Interuptyng the relegioun which he had
Of his dyuyne institucioun; 1328 instituted, and
Th ° h h b : d therefore
at in such caas, ther was no bettir reed, mee ie.
But Calistenes bi lawe mut be ded.
1298. vinolence] violence H — ofte] offtene H.
1306. or long] & B.
1308. godly honours] goodli honour B, J, godly honour P.
1316. as] om. H, P, H s.
1321. for] om. H. 1324. And] om. H.
510 The pitiful Death of Callisthenes [ BK. IV
qhey hewed of And to prolonge of his deth the peyne,
fect and tore out Vpon a boord he was leid along, 1332
His feet smet of & his hondes tweyne,
His eyen rent out: wer nat his peynes strong?
Thus kan tirauntes, whan them list do wrong,
Slen philisophres withoutyn any routhe, 1336
Which spared nat for to seyn hem trouthe.
ine and postels, Lhis cruel vengaunce mihte nat suffise;
and exhibited But Alisaundre, mor tencrece his wo,
is mutilated GF teh ce, be .
Peay f0:the Dede kutte his lippis in ful cruel wise, 1340
His nose-thrillis, his eres eek also.
And with the bodi he badde men sholde go
Toforn his host[e], as it is remembnid,
To shewe the trunke, how it was dismembnid. 1344
aisthinaa into LN a caue, deep & wonder lowe,
a dark cave Solitarie, dirked al the boundis,
ed with — :
madly barking Aftir the[s] peynes he made hym to be throwe,
= The place stufhd with wood berkyng houndis, _1348
Of fals entent to reende his bloodi woundis.
Til Lisymachus, of gret compassioun,
To shorte his torment gaf [to] hym poisoun.
pinay hus Who radde euer of tormentis more* terrible! —_—_1352
compassionately () Alisagundre, thou ouhtest been ashamed
gave him poison : oe i
to shorten his To slen thi clerk with peynes so horrible,
agony. ° °. e
Alexander, you For thi vicis because he hath the blamyd!
oe ot == Thi roial name therbi is diffamyd. 1356
yourself But euer tirauntes, whan them list be wood,
Of innocentes reioisshe to sheede [the] blood.
pet i hanea, Ageyn this kniht, gentil Lisymachus,
he was to = Because he hadde of hym compassioun, 1360
Lysimachus that K yng Alisaundre was malencolious.
he shut him : : :
up with a ferce Withoute cause, title or offensioun
aes Leet shet[e] hym up witb a fers leoun,
Void of al helpe for to be socourid, 1364
Of entencioun he sholde be deuoured.
Lyunectus But Lysymachus quit hym lik a kniht
ran at the lion Ageyn this leoun in the same place.
like a knight : : :
and rent out Ran fersli on hym, & of his marcial myht 1368
8 e, e e
which brave Out of his hed his* tunge he dede arace.
deed restored Reconciled to the kynges grace,
Alexander’s
favour. 1331. to] om. H. 1351. to] om. J, P—to hym gaf H.
1352. more] most B. 1362. offensioun] affeccioun H.
1369. his] the B.
BK.. IV | The unreasonable Cruelty of Alexander SII
Because that he so knihtli hath hym born,
Bettir cherisshed than euer he was beforn. 1372
Another kniht, that callid was Clitus, [p. 225] Snocher koight
Famous in armys for his cheualrie, ho was & great
; riend of the
On the grettest of the kyngis hous, king,
And most comendid of prudent policie, 1376
Most famyler, as bookis specefie,
Aboute the kyng, as it was ofte preued,
To tempre his corage whan he was agreeved, —
The kyng & he walkyng hond be hond 1380 Pra aie
Withynnze the paleis, beyng in presence highly in
Princis, dukis of many dyuers lond, prevence, that
Wher thei began be notable elloquence his envy,
Remembre of armys the marciall* excellence 1384
Of conquerours & worthi knihtis olde;
And eueri man aboute his tale tolde.
Among[e] which Clitus, that gentil kniht,
Gan to comende & gretli magnefie 1388
Phelipp Macedoyne, as hym ouhte of riht,
Bothe of [his] wisdam & his cheualrie.
Til Alisaundre hadde therat envie,
Gan disdeyne of furious cruelte 1392
That any sholde be comendid mor than he.
. : cut him down
Cauhte occasioun of ire & fals hatreede cal gu eatele
Ageyn [this kniht, that was to hym most trewe, and killed him,
With a sharp swerd vnwarli made hym bleede, 1396 hacen fora
His herte blood, hoot & red of hewe, i ee ge
Bi his sides raillyng doun of newe, — aa
Therbi to preue, this stori telle can,
He was no god nor resonable man. 1400
Thus in pryncis furious & cruell
Men may cleerli an euidence see,
How ther lordshipe is nat perpetuell,
But ful of chaung & mutabilite: 1404
Of cheer now freendli, now sodeyn enmyte;
Record on Clitus, most in the kyngis grace,
Vnwarli slayn, & dede no trespace.
1372. beforn] ageyn toforne H.
1375. On] oon of H.
1378. as] om. H.
1384. marciall] notable B, J.
1393. That] ban H.
1399. this] his H, R 3.
512 _ An Envoy on Callisthenes [BK. IV
Alexander, who Was he worthi to be deified, 1408
in outrageous “This Alisandre, most double of his corage?
ogee A Or was he worth: to be stellefied,
be deified. | This furious prince for his fel outrage,
That slouh his freendis in his mortal rage? ss raqr2
Thus farfe]n tirauntis whan them list be wood,
To seeke occasioun for to sheede blood.
He who tri Calisten slayn for moral disciplyne,
soonest be = And Lysymachus for his compassioun| 1416
Eek this tiraunt of fals gredi rauyne
Slouh gentil Clitus ageyn trouthe & resoun,
As ye han herd, for comendacioun
Of kyng Phelipp, this stori weel conceyued, — 1420
Who trusteth tirauntis shal sonnest be deceyued!
Lenvoye.
This teecoy HIS tragedie off Calistenes
Callisthenes, | Declareth vs be notable remembraunce,
who was slain
by Alexander He was with Plato & old Socrates 1424
In his youthe put vnder gouernaunce,
Drank of the mylk bi plenteuous habundaunce
Of ther too scooles, euer deuoid of slouthe,
Last bi Alisaundre dismembnid for his trouthe. 1428
because he said First he was sent bi Aristotiles
For tawaite bi prudent purueyaunce
On Alisandre, list he wer rek[e]les,
Bi presumpcioun in his roial puissaunce 1432
To take upon hym godly* attendaunce,
Which he withstood; alas, it was gret routhe,
To be so slayn because he seide trouthe!
Those who tive Who with tirauntis list put hymsilff in pres, 1436
t be able
mus: be able To haue ther fauour & stormy aqueyntaunce,
lie and be, He mut kunne* flatre & fage dout[elles,
t °
heart. +~+‘Be double of herte, with feyned contenaunce,
With cheer contreued doon his obseruaunce: 1440
For feithful menyng slayn, & bat was routhe,
Is* Calistenes because he seide trouthe.
1433. goodli B, J, goodly R 3, P.
1436. list] om. H.
1438. kunne] kum B, come H, P.
1442. Is} In B.
BK. Iv | The Story of Alexander of Epirus 513
Noble Pryncis, your subiectis keepe in pes, ae
Beth nat to hasti for to do vengaunce; 1444 hasty to do
For to tirauntes that be merciles God grants
God sent short lyff & sodenli myschaunce. wana
Who seith [you] trouthe, hath no displesaunce,
Preente in your herte, how it was gret routhe 1448
That Calistenes was slay[e]n for his trouthe.
[How Alisaundre kyng of Pirothe auenturyng to
passe the flood of Acheronte, there at his bak/
bi his most trusty was dedly wounded. | !
FFTIR the compleynt of Calistenes, og plane
Slayn tirauntli & dede no trespas, appeared before
° ° ochas, telling
Cam Alisaundre kyng of Pirothes, 1452 him how he
. . was drowned
His woundis bleedyng, onto Iohn Bochas, in the Acheron,
To hym declaryng* how he drowned was
In Acheronte, a ryuer of gret fame,
Beside a toun, Pandosia was the name. 1456
And as it is remembred & Itold [p. 226] neag, the city
Of this notable myhti strong cite, ie a
It was in Grece bilt be daies olde,
And aftir Pirrus callid Pirothe, 1460
Wher-as the kyng heeld his roial see.
And as Bochas also doth* determyne,
This Alisaundre cam of the same lyne.
Of whos kynreede is maad pleyn mencioun, 1464 BU Raat wat son
Sone to Achilles was this knyht* Pirrus; Neoptolemus,
° ° : next in order,
And next in ordre bi successioun, was the father
‘ , of this
Fader to Alisaundre was Neptolonius, Alexander and
Which hadde also, myn auctour tellith thus, 1468 yoann
A ful fair douhtir, the story ye may seen, serra
Olympiades, of Macedoyne queen.
And she was weddid to Phelipp Macedo, + alld
Whilom mooder, this queen of most renou7, faye Cecame: metas
To Alisaundre, the stori tellith so, the Great.
1446. sodenli]sodeyn J, R 3, es eomeine P. 1447. you]om. J.
1454. declaryng] declared B, J, P. :
1460. cailidil-cam H.
1462. as] om. H, R 3, H 5 — Bochas also doth] bookis also
B, J, ©
1465. this] the J — knyht] kyng B.
1 MS. J. leaf 91 verso.
514 The Story of Alexander of Epirus [ BK. IV
Which al the world brouht in subiecciouz.
Whos fader Phelipp, of gret affeccioun,
Leet crowne the brother of Olympiades,
Callid Alisaundre, to regne in Pirothes.
Alexander of To whom [kyng] Phelipp, for his gret beute,
rus was
made king by , Because he was so fair a creature,
Bias agsinet Hadde such affeccioun & specialte,
As it is remembred in scripture,
Of fals foul lust ageyn[e]s [al] nature,
As seith Bochas, I can hym nat excuse,
Vnleeffulli he dede his beute vse.
revchle deca, And bi mene of that horrible deede,
and too foul to Which to reherse is to foul a thyng,
This said[e] Phelipp, in Bochas thus I reede,
In Epirothes he made hym to be kyng;
And of extorsioun, be record of writyng,
Causeles fro thens he dede enchace
The kyng Arabba, tho regnyng in that place.
Afterwards == And it fill aftir, the stori tellith so,
Alexander
invaded Italy, Of this Alisaundre, be cerious rehersaille,
Vpon the deth of Phelipp Macedo,
With a gret host [he] cam into Itaille,
Supposyng gretli for to auaille
To occupie, aftir his proude entent,
Hooli the boundis of al the occident.
where Fortuna And thouh so be that Fortune be chaungable,
deceived him
by first giving PJouble also, bi cours of hir nature,
him victory
over the people At his gynnyng he fond hir fauourable:
of Lucca. : .
Made hym twies proudli to recure
Geyn them of Luk, to ther disconfiture
To haue the feeld, & maugre al ther myht
Of verray force to putte hem vnto fliht.
When he began Ageyn Itaille whan he gan this werre,
Italy, Fulli in purpos the Romeyns to assaille,
Of hih presumpcioun proceede he gan so ferre,
With many prince that was in his bataille,
To knowe afforn bi certeyn dyuynaille,
Of his conquest the boundis for to caste,
And of his lyff how longe it sholde laste.
1478. kyng] om. J. 1482. al] om. P, J.
1488. Epirus P. 1491. Arnbba H.
1493. cerious}] Curious H. 1495. he] om. J, P.
1504. &] om. H
1476
1480
1484
1488
1492
1496
1500
1504
1508
1512
®
BK. Iv | The Story of Alexander of Epirus 515
And in the temple of [ubiter the grete,
Bi dyuynours that wer expert & old,
Seruyng this god withynne the lond of Creete,
he inquired his
fate of diviners,
who said that
he should
This was the ansuere which thei haue hym told, 1516
And it affermyd bi toknis manyfold,
How that he nat sholde eschewe pe dreedful date
Quer the day assigned to his last fate.
And thei also assigned[e] a place,
Therbi to haue knowlechyng mor cleer,
Vnder a cite, longe & large of space,
Callid Pandosia; & for to go mor neer,
Bi Acheronte, a famous gret ryueer;
Told hym pleynli, & koude no ferther seie,
Of necessite ther he muste [nedis] deie.
And thouh it wer an ernest & no iape,
Of God ordeyned nat to be set a-side,
He thouhte of wisdam his destyne tescape
And othirwise for hymsilff prouide.
Cast in Grece no lenger to abide,
Wenyng this ryuer nor that fair cite,
Sauf in Grece sholde nowher ellis be.
And for to sette hymsilff in assuraunce
Of entent teschewe his destyne,
In-to thre batailes departyng his puissaunce,
Cam to Itaille tofor Luk the cite.
Thei with helpe of Sammoys the contre,
With a gret poweer cam out anon mht,
Slouh al his knihtis & put hym vnto fliht.
At the bak thei pursued hym so neer, [p.
That his enmyes almost wer on hym fall,
Vn-tabregge, broke with the ryuer,
And ouerturnid with his plankis all.
And Acheronte men that ryuer call,
As was told hym bi a certeyn kniht
Which rood beforn hym, the ryuer in his siht.
1516. the] his
1518. nat soled de bi not R 3, H 3.
1522. large & gi
1526. sah gta pat — nedis] om. H s.
1539. out
1542. wer almost H.
1 In B, upper corner of leaf, later band: “my Fate butt
and yett contentt | k kt.
die near a city
called Pandosia,
on the Acheron.
1§20
1524
He thought to
cote a
estiny by
1528 leaving Greece,
where there
was sucha
town and
river.
1532
Later on he
was defeated
by the Luccans,
and his knights
1536 slain; and,
1540
1 soy pursued
227+] by his
enemies, he
came to a
broken bridge
over a river;
1544
mene |
516 The Death of Alexander of Epirus [ BK. IV
and ween «|. For bi a reyn that fill that same niht, 1548
told him that The ryuer wex[e] to a dreedful flood,
the Acheron, And nat fer then[ne]s, in the kyngis siht,
town on its Vpon the water a litil toun ther stood,
Pandosia, Which made the kyng chaunge face & blood; _rss2
And specialli his pride gan attame,
Whan he wiste Pandosia was the name.
he remembered And thanne he gan most dreedfulli remembre,
of the priests Callyng to mynde the preestis dyuynaille, 1556
in every joint Which made hym quake in euert ioynt & membre
For verray feer[e], & his breth to faille.
No man koude hym wisse* nor counsaille,
On eueri parti he stood so on the wrak: 1560
The flood toforn hym, his enmyes at his* bak.
He did not = To take the ryuer he stood in mortal dreed;
way to turn, And yif that he his enmyes dede abide,
close behind He wiste weel that he was but ded, 1564
him, and th
river before him, Passage was non for to turne aside.
Thus desolat he stood withoute guide,
Thouhte it bett to 1uparte the ryuer
Than with enmyes that folwed hym so neer. 1568
and finally Thre mortal dreedis his herte gan constreyne;
choosing the
oe Dreed of the flood[e] for to ha[ue] passage,
Behynde his enmyes, that gan at hym disdeyne,
List he wer slay[e]n in that mortal rage: 1572
His fate approchyng, he but yong of age,
The toun Pandosia the toknys ded expresse,
With Acheronte that bar therof witnesse.
he was about And whan that he putte in auenture 1576
to throw
himself into its To passe the flood or ellis to be ded,
waters, when
his most Whom he most truste of any creature,
trusted man
plunged agreat Took a gret spere, squar & sharp the hed,
spear into his
back and And at his bak, he quakyng in his dreed, _—_ 1580
killed him. = Traitourli thoruhout[e] plate & maile
Perced his herte; the blood abrod gan raile.
The Luccans
cut his body And as it is also of hym remembred,
eee att The Lucaynois be vengable violence, 1584
afterwards an
old lady begged Thei han his careyn on pecis al dismembred, —
1551. water] Riveer H. 1559. hym wisse] wissh hym B,
wisse hym H, R 3. _ 1561. 2nd his] the B—at hij arte. J.
1568. with] with his H. 1569. dreedis] Deedis H.
1578. trustid H. 15681. Trayterously P.
1582. the blood had] about pe bloode H, R 3.
BK. IV | Alexander the Great and Darius 517
Til an old ladi beyng in presence
Requered them of humble pacience,
That she of grace gadre myhte anon . 1588
His membris alle & ioyne hem into oon,
Afftir to sende hem onto his suster deere, she mignt
Olympiades, the statli grete queen; remained of
That of affeccioun & loue most enteere, 1592 sister.
Whan it befill that she dede hem seen, for. burial.
Sholde of nature, as it mut needis been,
Weepe, & prouide in his estat roiall
To burie the bodi with feeste funerall. 1596
Seeth heer exaumple of this proude kyng Sead Lane
Which wolde ha scaped his fatal destyne; thougat $0
Chaung of placis auailed hym nothyng: destiny; but
Parodie of pryncis may nat chaunged be, 1600 availed him
The terme sette, fro which thei may nat flee. aon ee
his fate.
For whan heuene of deth hath set a date,
No mortal man eschewe may* his fate.
(How Darye kyng of Perce and Mede was outraied
by Alisaundre kyng of Macedoyne. | !
N Alisaundre callid Epirothes 1604 King Darius III
Me list as now no lenger for to tarye, —
Slayn at myscheef, for he was rek[el]les,
Double of corage, koude chaunge & varie.
For turne I will my penne to kyng Danie, 1608
Which that whilom, who-so list take heede,
Most myhti regned in Perse & Mede.
And among other notable werreiours, eta
Lik as I deeme, bi heuenl: influence, 1612 lordship,
Onli be title of his predecessours
And thoruh his prudent roial excellence,
To gret encres of his magnificence
He had al Asie, as maad is mencioun, 1616
Vnder his lordshepe & domynacioun.
: and, as Bochas
And as myn auctour Bochas doth diffyne, say t, was supers
He was descendid fro the imperial blood and descended
m
Of Artaxerses, & born eek of that lyne. 1620 smperial line
of Artaxerxes.
1589. into] in till on 1595. Ev hir H, R 3.
1603. may eschewe B Le On ve In H, R 3, J.
1608. to] vn to H, R 2 1618. “Ft chas Hi.
1 MS. J. leaf 92 verso.
518
He had power
over t and
the R Bees
and deemed
bimeel lord
earthly wealth.
His dominions
extended over
Alexander the Great and Darius [ BK. Iv
Passed al princis of tresour & of good;
In Perse & Mede his gret empire stood.
An hundred prouynces, tencrece his* puissaunce,
And seuene & thretti he hadde in gouernaunce. 1624
4 Ouer al Asie towar[d] the orient [p. 228]
His lordshipe laste, bookis make mynde,
And [he] hadde toward thoxident,
Quer Egipt poweer, as I fynde, 1628
The Rede Se was nat left behynde,
Deemyng hymsilff, of al erthli treso[u]r,
Was non but he lord nor gouernour.
Toward Septemptrion, vnder the mydday speere 1632
India, Parthia His poweer rauhte & his regalie,
and Armenia,
and worldy Quer Ynde, in cronicles ye may lere,
folk thought .
him the equal And to the boundis of gret Armenye;
: Lord of the kyngdam that callid is Parthie. 1636
Worldli folk dempte hym with God egall,
Maister to Fortune, & she nat but his thrall.
But for all his But in his hiest exaltacioun
ambition, |. Of worldli glorie, he coude nat preuaille; 1640
him through = or al his richesse & veyn ambicioun,
Alexander the
Great, But Fortune durste hym weel assaille.
In his most riche roial apparaille,
Cast in hir chaungis to yiue hym a sharp shour 1644
Bi Alisaundre, of Grece enheritour.
fin down from VAto purpos I will my penne dresse
his throne. = For to declare & make mencioun,
How proud[e] Darie in his most noblesse 1648
Was bi Fortune from his see cast doun.
For anon aftir the coronacioun
Of Alisaundre in Macedoyne kyng,
This was the processe anon of his werkyng: 1652
Alesander mace He nat delaied nor maad no longe date,
ect out at once In purpos fulli of ire to proceede
to conquer
Persia and Off Perse & Mede the sceptris to translate,
ia, < .
Al ther richessis to conquere & posseede, 1656
Perpetueli for tabide in deede
Vndir Grekis myhti obeissaunce,
In Macedoyne to haue gouernaunce.
1623. his] of B.
1627. he] om. H, R 3+ JF H s.
1635. Armonye H
1643. riche] om.
1655. sceptre
BK. Iv | Alexander the Great and Darius 519
And as myn auctour weel reherse kan, 1660 27d establishing
his seat in
He sette in Grece the myhti strong cite, Corinth
Of Corynthe the metropolitan,
Ther testablisshe his imperial see,
In regalibus whan he list crowned bee, 1664
As man whom God list of his myht to marke
The world to conquere, & be therof monarke.
At the gynnyng of his conquest famous, ase the most,
: renown 0
Throuhout Grece in euery regeoun 1668 renowned and |
First he ches out of his fadres hous Greece,
Knihtis that wern most souereyn of renoun,
Notable in armys, & of condicioun
Feithful, trewe, which had of hih prudence 1672
Forsiht in armys of marcial prouidence.
To them he dede ful notabli assigne, ete Ug
As men expert in knihtli apparailles, seat nO
To make his stuff with many riche signe, 1676
And forge of steel his plate & his mailles. :
Gaff hem the reule to gouerne his* batailles;
For prouidence, of yore it hath be told,
Ful myche auaileth of knihtes wis & old. 1680
Al this acomplisshed, he list no lenger tarie, hbase antag
This worthi kyng, but with his ordenaunce Seen tee
Purposed to begynne on kyng Darie. pe Taebeson
And, as it 1s put in remembraunce, I
In most proud wise he gan hymsilff auaunce,
First in his weie to brenne & bete doun
Of hasti ire Thebes the myhti toun.
Aftir, he gat too mihti regeouns, __ 1688 Phrygia and
The ton of Fnge, the tothir callid Lide, — Lydia.
Set bi old tyme wer ther fundaciouns
Vpon too ryuers rennyng ther beside, 1691
Whos goldene grauell ther brihtnesse may nat hide.
Paceolus & Eryne men them call,
Richest off stremys, thouh men rekne hem all.
1667. Atte begynnyng H.
1675. old etter H.
1676. many a H
1677. of | be H — ~ maile H.
; ti Sage B— ae H.
ee elis aT. eke Pp— may] myht H.
1693. aceolue P.
520 Alexander the Great and Darius [BK. Iv
After, win: ang And of his conquest ferther to termyne,
Pamphili, § He wan Isaurea, a prouynce wonder strong, 1696
In Asia oon cheuest off the nyne.
And Pamphile, a kyngdam large and long,
He gat also, wher it wer nht or wrong.
For wher that conquest haue any title of mht, 1700
It passeth my resoun, my kunnyng & my myht.
he hastened to T took no parti nor me list nat tarie
In this mateer, but for[th] I wil proceede,
How Alisaundre hastid toward Darie 1704
Tacheue his conquest of Perse & eek of Mede.
But first he cam to Frigia, I reede,
Into a* cite, the name to specefie,
Thilke dates 1t callid was Gordie. 1708
Goriwn is Aftir myn auctour afferme weel I dar, [p. 229]
Phrygia, he == Ther was a temple in Frigia, thus seith he,
cart bound = Of Tubiter, in which ther stood a chaar
with ropes in
the temple of With ropis bounde, of stonis & perre;* 1712
aia Amongf{es] which men myhte behold & see
A fatal knotte, be craff[t] maad so sotile,
That no man koude ondon it be no wile.
and it was For who that hadde science or kunnyng 1716
whoever could That corious knotte to losne or vntwyne,
untie the knot
eg a Quer Asie he sholde be crownid kyng.
over Asia. | And Alisaundre, as bookis determyne,
Seyng this char knet with many [a] lyne, 1720
And how it sempte a maner impossible
To seueren it, which was indyuysible, —
Alexander a" The chaar with coordis was so enterlacid,
rere to inter- ‘That richeli stood in Iouys tabernacle, 1724
man could = Which be his wit koude nat be vnbracid,
loo th
he pulled out Nother be crafft nor no soleyn myracle:
8 . ° °
a. Til Alisaundre, bi a dyuyn oracle,
Drouh out his suerd, wherof men hadde wonder, 1728
Carf the knotte & cordis alle assonder,
through, and Wherbi he wiste that he was ordeyned
ort
foe coruea’ Quer al Asie to be lord & kyng.
Which to reioisshe (this stori is nat feyned) 1732
1698. Pamphilia ¥ 1699. wer] was H. a to cheve H.
1707. In ta B, J, R3. 1708. callid] namyd
1712. of perre B. 1720. a] om. af Bk.
1729. Carf] korve H. 1730. he] thei oH H s, R 3.
BK.IV] Alexander the Great and Darius. Gordius 521
He rood lik Mars his batailes conueyeng,
Thoruh Perse & Mede his standardis displaieng,
Toward his conquest, wher I leue hym duelle,
And of this chaar & knottes I wil telle.
Prudent Iustinus, an olde cronicleer,
In his cronicles reherseth this storye:
How [oon] Gordius, a poore laborer,
Beside the cite that callid is Gordie,
Eryng his lond dede his oxis guie,
Al maner foul that hath weengis fliht
Hih in the hair apperede in his siht.
Vnknowe to hym the tokne what it mente,
With dyuynourfe]s cast hym to counsaile,
Callid augures, which hooli ther entente,
Knowyng the processe of such dyuynaille,
Wher it shal proffite or disauaille.
And at the gate of Gordie the cite
He mette a maide excellyng of beute,
Which from aboue, bi heuenli influence,
Hadde of hir birthe a maner know(le]chyng,
In such augurie gret practik and science, —
Which to Gordius expowned eueri thyng,
Saide of Asia he sholde be lord & kyng,
And regne ther duryng al his lyff.
In hope wherof she becam his wyff.
Aftir his weddyng he wex fortunat,
The cronicle can ber me weel record:
Ther fill in Frige a sodeyn gret debat
Among the comouns & a mortal discord,
Knowyng no mene to brynge hem at accord,
Til ther goddis bi notable prouidence
Tauht hem a weie tappese ther violence,
How that debat sholde among hem laste
Vnto the tyme thei hadde chose a kyng.
And thei gan crie & preye ther goddis faste,
Bi sum signe or myracle out shewyng,
To yiue to them a maner knowlechyng,
That thei myhte, to ther notable encres,
Chese such on that sholde hem sette in pes.
1733. bataile H.
1736
Justin tells as
that Gordius, a
poor agricul-
turist, once saw
ee en of
irds flying
1740 high in the air.
As he did not
1744 know what the
token meant,
he went to
Gordium to
consult the
rately and met
at the city gate
1748 a beautiful
gid, who
had fore-
knowledge of
events, and told
him that he
1752 Asia, and,
1756
After the
wedding a
dispute arose in
ro ee, and
I the people were
7 told that it
would continue
until they had
chosen a king;
and it was
shewn to them
176 4 by miracle
1768
1738. this] his H. 1739. oon] om. J. 1746. ther] be H.
1758. his] this H. 1769. to] om. H.
522
that they must
crown a man
of Jupiter.
This man was
Gordius, who
after he became
ed
king rul
wisely and set
his people in
peace.
He suggested
that the cart
be given as
an offering to
Jupiter;
and to make
it the more
auspicious,
it was placed
in the temple
before the
goddess Grace.
After Alexander
had cut the
knot and seen
all the mysteries
Alexander the Great and Darius.
Gordius
Thei hadde answere, tawaite & be weel war,
To sette espies bi besi attendaunce,
[BK. IV
1772
To Iouis temple to doon his obseruaunce,
And hym resceyue, bi goddis ordenaunce,
Vpon his hed, withoute mor tariyng,
To sette a crowne in Frige to regne as kyng.
And Gordius in his chaar ridyng
Toward be temple, thei on the weye hym mette; 1780
And awaityng ches hym to ther kyng,
And solempneli hom thei dede hym fette;
Vpon his hed a riche crowne thei sette.
And he to them so egal was & meete,
That [he] hem brouhte in reste & in quiete.
Thus to the crowne Gordius dede atteyne,
Be toknis shewed onto his gret auaill.
And ther discordes & stryues to restreyne,
He to his lieges gaff notabli counsaill,
That thei sholde with roial apparaill
[Go] take his char, as he dede hem deuise,
And offre it up in most lowli wise
In the temple, that was consecrat
To Iubiter, a ful solempne place.
And mor to make ther offryng fortunat,
Thei sholde it sette, withoute lenger space,*
Tofor the goddesse that was callid Grace,
Which bi myracles ther hertis to appese,
Sett al the peeple in quieet & in ese.
And whan the kyng Alisaundre hadde
Loosnid the knotte, of which I haue you told,
1776
1784
1788
1792
[p. 230]
1796
1800
of Gordius’ cart, And of the chaar[e] which Gordius ladde,
he grew
presumptuous
and robbed
Gordium and
all Phrygia up
to Mt. Taurus,
which is also
called
Caucasus.
The secrees seyn & mysteries manyfold,
Worldli presumpcioun gan make his herte bold, 1804
Withoute title of any mhtwisnesse,
The cite Gordie to spoille of his richesse.
And al Frigie he robbed eek also
Vp to the mountayn that callid was Taurus.
The which[e] hill hath famous names too;
For it is also named Caucasus,
1808
1778. to regne in Frige H.
1791. his] this H. 1796. space] date B.
BK. Iv | Alexander the Great and Darius 523
Wher this prynce most victorious
Ordeyned first proudli with spere & sheeld 1812
Ageyn kyng Danie for to holde a feeld.
Vpon a mounteyn thei togidre mette; foughe Darts
on € ain oO
The marcial pleyn [was] named Horestes, Orsesand pu
And most proudli ther wardis ther thei sette —1816 him to flight.
Al for the werre & nothyng for the pes.
Wher Alisandre, in knihthod pereles,
Al the Persiens batailed in his siht
On Daries partie put vnto [the] fliht. 1820
Kyng Alisaundre, shortli to conclude, one
In his most statli roial magnificence, noe ie
Set nat his trust in no gret multitude, than in
numbers,
But in his knihtis, which longe in his presence 1824
Hadde had in armis longe experience,
Wer weel preued in marcial disciplyne
Tenhaunce his conquest bi ther prudent doctrine.
Which in that iourne han hem so weel born, —_ 1828 224 his knights
That in ther noblesse founde was no lak: captated
For sexti thousand of footmen hem beforn Persians.
Thei slouh of Perse, & men on hors[e]bak
Other ten thousand, so mortal was the wrak; _—1832
And fourti thousand, as maad is mencioun,
Wer prisoneres [take] & put to ther raunsoun.
On Grekis parti, the stori doth weel shewe, hundred Greeks
Macedonoys on Alisandris side, 1836 were slain.
In comparisoun wer slay[e]n but a fewe;
For of footmen & men that dede ride,
Thoruh the feeldis, that wer so large & wide,
Ther wer that day in al ther mortal stryues 1840
Nat ful thre hundred which that lost ther lyues.
Darie koude non other rescus make, peebeeta ts
Fledde at myscheeff in ful gret distresse. Sees Gia
His wiff, his douhtre lad awei & take; 1844 captive, his
His tentis spoilled; his stori berth witnesse. of alti
treasure.
Grekis made glad with ful gret richesse,
His coffres spoilled, he fond no bet socour,
And he enporisshed of al his hool tresour. 1848
1812. proudli] om. H. ,
ey 5. was] om. J, P— named] namy H — Horestes] Adrasties
1816, wardis] werkes H. 1820. Daryus H.
1824. his] om. H.
524 Alexander the Great and Darius [ BK. IV
bi a ola Whan Darie sauh his dedli auenture,
knew not what Ful pitousli in herte he dede mourne,
And anon aftir this disconfiture
To Babilon in haste he gan retourne, 1852
And whil that he dede ther soiourne,
Knowyng no recure to hym that myhte auayle
With Alisaundre to holde mor bataile.
and sent
anc vent . Than of purpos to sette hymsilf in ese 1856
rich gifts asa And for talegge his dedli fel greuaunce,
peace offering : 7
to Alexander, In his entent kyng Alisaumdre to plese,
upon whom
they had no Cast for to sende hym lettres of plesaunce,
See Yiue hym giftes in ful gret habundaunce. 1860
But al the sleihtis which Darius hath wrouht,
Kyng Alisaundre set hem echon at nouht.
Proceeding 'a ‘This manli kyng kept his conceit cloos,
Alexander visitedList nat shewe what he ment in deede, 1864
¢ emple of ° ° e
Jupiter in But caste fulli aftir his purpos
7 Vpon his conquest ferther to proceede.
Aftir the getyng of Perse & eek of Mede
To wynne Surrie, Egipt & Libie-lond, 1868
Deemyng Fortune reedi to his hond.
andsaidthathe And of his conquest ferther to endite,
from the god, Whan his glorie gan most fresshli shyne,
The temple of Iubiter cast hym to vesite, 1872
Which stood in Libie, auctours determyne.
Saide how he was descendid fro the lyne
Of thilke god, bor[e]n to been his hair,
As lord of heuene, fir, water, erthe & hair. 1876
ang ave’ the And that the preestis fulli sholde assente _—[p. 231]
deify him, With heuenli goddis to maken hym egall,
forgetting that
he was but a (Gret richesse & tresour he hem sente:
mortal man: Thus dreed and mede made hym celestiall. 1880
Falsli forgete* that he was mortall,
And of ambicioun, be marcial apparaille,
Cast with Darie ageyn to ha[ue] bataille.
1857. talegge] tabrige H, ta legge J, talegge H 5, R 3,
taledge P.
1868. Siria P—lyby & Egipt londe H.
1869. of Fortune H.
1876. fir water] watir fyer H — &] om. J, H, R 3, H 5, P.
1881. forgat B, J, R
1882. marcial] mortail H.
BK. Iv | Alexander the Great and Darius 525
And, as I fynde, how thei dede mete, 1884 In the mean-
time Darius
The[s] too pryncis with peeple innumerable cones ha
In the confrount of the lond of Crete; Alexander on
And kyng Darye of folkes deffensable Tene
Brouht into feeld a peeple incomparable, 1888
Foure hundred thousand of fotmen fet fro ferre,
With Alisaundre that day* to holde werre.
An hundred thousand ther cam with hym also, een
On hors[e]bak in steel[e] armyd briht. 1892 Was Victorious.
And alle this peeple, whan thei hadde ado,
Al-be that day ful longe laste the fiht,
Wer slayn & take & Iput to fliht.
Wher Alisaundre to his encres of glorie 1896
Hadde of kyng Darie that day the victorie.
And Persiens to ther fynal myscheeff, Abe Pereane
Withoute merci or payeng of raunsoun, Barbie; where
e ° arius was
With kyng Darie wer put to gret repreeff, 1900 captured
Void of al hope & consolacioun,
Fledde, as I fynde, into the regeoun
Callid Partie, wher, as it is told,
He of that peeple was take & put in hold. 1904
and fettered
And thouh his feteres wern of gold maad riche, with gold.
He hadde therof, God wot, no plesaunce.
Fortunys gifftis be nat ay iliche,
In hir fals wheel ther is such variaunce. 1908
Dyuers of cheer, straunge of hir contenaunce,
Made Alisaundre with a litil noumbre
The multitude of Darie to encoumbre.
Withyne a toun [called] Tharsa he was take, —_—ror2 Forpeken Py.
In [a] chariet, with cheynis stronge bounde, wan murdered ‘
Of al his freendis pitousli forsake, knight called
Bessus,
Lad & thoruh percid with many mortal wounde.
And this moordre contryued was and founde _1916
Bi oon Bessus, a froward rekles knyht,
Which stood afforn most forthred in his siht,
1888. pe felde H
1890. that day] for B, J, P.
1893. this] his H.
1903. Parthye H.
1910. Alienutidrel of pare H.
1912. called] om. H, J, R 3, H 5 — Tharsa] Tanca P.
1913. a]om. J, P—I bounde J, ybounde P. 1915. manyaH.
526 Alexander the Great and Darius [ BK. IV
rennin to And was assured be feith of his legiaunce
ied, Donor’ Lo kyng Danie to be trewe in deede. 1920
eat an old But this fals traitour (God sende hym a myschaunce))
Alexander Caused his woundis mortalli to bleede.
him to have Yit or he deied he sente in al his dreede
mercy on his
wife and A Percien kniht, sad & off gret age, 1924
shuldsen, To Alisaundre to telle hym his massage:
“Go thanke that prince of his hih noblesse,
Which of* his grace & merci most habounde,
Hym list to shewe so gret gentilesse 1928
Vnto my wiff & childre, as it is founde.
For which to hym I am so moche bounde,
That he myn enmy, of his benignite,
In ther distresse list haue of them pite. 1932
and to ato Amd sithe I see that needis I mut deie
beve qauranes Thoruh bloodi woundis, which I may nat recure,
Sei Alisaundre, of grace that I preie,
For to ha[ue] routhe on* myn auenture, 1936
Next to ordeyne for my sepulture,
And condescende to graunte myn axyng,
For to be buried as longeth to* a kyng.
Praiyng the goddis which been inmortall, 1940
Whan he hath do to quiten hym his meede,
That of his merci most imperiall
Hym list of grace for to taken heede,
To burie me, kyng of Perse & Mede; 1944
For yif this fauour be in his herte founde,
To his noblesse the fame shal ay rebounde.
and to avenge
his foul murder. Requeryng hym of his imperial myht
f myn foul moordre to seen ech circumstaunce; 1948
For moordre alway calleth to God of riht,
Neuer cesyng, but bi contynuaunce,
Vp to the heuene to crie for vengaunce, —
Namli on moordre compassed & forthouht, 1952
Which bi auisement is execut & wrouht.
After he had ~~ And sithe I haue leid on the this bond,
given this
message to the ‘T’g Alisaundre to do my massage,
knight, he died; ° A .
mene" And hym coniured heer with my riht hond 1956
Tauenge my deth, wrouht bi gret outrage,
1921. pence) sent H. 1927. of] to B.
1936. on] of B. 1939. 204 onto B. 1940. Immortall H.
1952. Namli] Namely whan H.
teow
BK. Iv | An Envoy on King Darius
My blood out shad, witb pale & ded visage,
Heer bounde in stokkis, to goddis most benigne
With mht hool herte my sperit I resigne.”
Thus he lay stark, [for] ther was lefft no blood,[p.232]
Lik as a-nother mortal creature.
Whan Alisaundre the moordre vndirstood,
As ye han herd remembnid be scripture,
He dede ordeyne for his sepulture
The funeral feeste holde in al[le] thynges
As bi old tyme longed onto kynges.
1964
q Lenvoye.
HIS tragedie pitous for to heere 1968 ¢,
Sheweth of Fortune be chaunges lamentable,
Of roial tronis of gold & stonis cleere,
In worldli princis how thei be euer vnstable.
Hir* fatal wheel most dyuers & chaungable,
With vnwar turn list nat hir cours to tarie
To throwe hem doun; record upon kyng Darie.
Who can or may be ful assured heere
1972
To make Fortune to be so tretable, 1976
To fynde a weie or serche out the maneere
Bi obligacioun to fynde hir vnmutable?
Hir double face, the world ay deceyuable,
Shewe us ech day how falsli thei can varie 1980
Bi couert fraude; record upon kyng Darie.
Exaumple how Phebus with his bemys cleer
Sheweth sum morwe his liht most agreable,
But longe or eue dirknesse ther doth appeere
Thoruh cloudi reynes & mystes long durable,
To us declaryng be toknes ful notable,
Worldli dignites, now fressh & now contrarie,
Can chaunge ther tides; record [up]on kyng Darie.1988
Thoruh all Asie, Perse, & Mede ifeere
His lordshipe last, a thyng incomparable.
To Ethiope vnder the mydday speere,
Ful of tresour with gold innumerable,
His boundis rauhte; Fortune eek seruisable
1970.
1972.
1975.
1988.
1992.
1984
1992
tronis} throwis H
Hir] Ther B, J, R 3, H, H s, Their P.
heere] ay heer H.
Can chaunge ther are By covert fraude H.
tresour} all tresour
1960
527
and adesanges
cecptege im
kingly
Reactire.
me iteous
y shews
ie lamentable
changes of
Fortuna and
the ane AEEY
of worldly
princes.
ae one on earth
certain
of SRGHUnA:
Like Phoebus,
who often
shews his clear
beams in the
morning and
is clou
before night,
so are the
dignities of
this world now
flourishing and
now contrary.
Darius ruled
all Asia, his
possessions
were without
number, until
Fortune proved
her might on
him.
528 The Misery and Ruin of War [ BK. IV
Tobeie his lustis, til she gan falsli varie,
Bi expert fraude to preue hir myht in Darie.
role Faces Noble Princis, with hool hert & enteer 1996
on high thrones, T efft up your corages, holdeth this no fable:
remember that 2 u
no lordship Thouh ye sit hih, conceyueth with good cheer
lasting. No worldli lordshipe in erthe is perdurable;
And sithe ye been of nature resonable, 2000
Among remembreth, as thyng most necessarie,
Al stant on chaung; record upon kyng Darie.
[Here Bochas remembreth the batailes and losse of
Rewmys of antiquyte/ with the fallyng of diuers
nobles. |!
ross er an | fects gynneth Bochas remembre in certeyn
The grete sorwes, the mortal disauailes, 2004
the great
sorrows, the loss 2
of realms, and The losse of reumys, be blood eek shad in veyn,
vainly shed in Begunne of werris & marcial apparailles.
wars since the
days of the | Cald to mynde of olde the fell batailles
Greeks an
Tica" Gunne of antiquite, as maad is mencioun, 2008
First atween Greekis & them of Troie toun.
It would make A pitous herte it wolde make bleede
heart bleed = To haue in memoire the dreedful gret outrage,
to have all in
memory. As ye han herd[e], wrouht in Perse and Mede 2012
Atween Darie and Alisaundre 1n ther age.
Eek atween Romeyns & them of Cartage
The woful troublis of werris first begunne,
Cause al the myscheuys that been vnder sonne. 2016
Kingdoms have ° ‘
Kingdoms have Qn outher parti, who can remembre artht,
ruin and laid Now losse, now lucre komth of dyutsioun,
desolate by
dissension, Now disencres, now heuy & now liht,
Now lyff, now deth, for short conclusioun; 2020
For Bochas seith, such fals discencioun
Hath many kyngdan, that stood in good estat,
Turnid to ruyne & maad them desolat.
iti Remembre of Troye the wallis broke doun, 2024
in Greece and Tp Grece destroied many strong cite,
Persia, Rome :
and Carthage In Perse & Mede gret desolacioun,
destroyed by : é
the cruel rage Rome dispurueied of marcial surete,
oO Castellis, tours of old antiquite 2028
2001. necessarie] transitory H.
2004, 6, 7. disavaile, apparaile, batailisH. 2011. memorye H.
2015. troublis] trouble H.
2017. ariht] mht H. 2024. of] on H.
1 MS. J. leaf 94 verso.
BK. Iv ]
Maad ruynous in Affrik & Cartage,
Caused be werris & Martis cruel rage.
Who list considren, wrouht bi daies olde
The cours of conquest of thes werreiours,
In Alisaundre he cleerli may beholde
Bi remembraunce of his progenitours
And of his blood, how al the successours
Hadde fatalli, or thei dede hen{ne]s wende,
A sodeyn deth or a shamful eende.
Ful many reknid that wer of hys lynage
For to succeede in his pocessiovns,
To sexe & thretti partyng his heritage,
To ech assigned ther roial porciouns.
[And] first, as he made his dyuisiouns,
He gaf of Frige the prefecture off riht
To Leonatus, that was so good a kniht.
But litil* while last his pocessioun;
For the contres list hym nat obeie.
Thei of Athenys hadde indignacioun
With Antipater, for he dede hem werreye;
Yit in that werre, pleynli for to seie,
Leostenes ther duk, ther gouernour
Was slayn that day; he fond no bet socour.
And Leonatus, that was his aduersarie,
- Of Antipater the parti to susteene,
Fond Fortune that day to hym contrarie;
For in the feeld thouh he rod armed cleene,
The Misery and Ruin of War
529
Think of
pcenaens
is progenitors
2032 and his
successors, how
all came to a
sudden or
shameful death.
2036
His estate was
divided
amongst
Pe le Sa
2040 Fhrygia to
“4 the share of
Leonnatus,
2044
ip. 233] bags
2048
and died
2052 fighti against
the Athenians.
With a sharp spere his wound was maad[e] greene, 2056
At myscheef slayn, myn auctour doth compile.
Thus his lordship last nat but a while.
Antipater, another successour
Of Alisaundre, as maad is mencioun,
Was be record the* same fals traitour
That for his deth[{e] tempred the poisoun.
Antipater,
anor ice heir,
was the traitor
2060 who mixed the
poison for
Alexander.
His sone Cassander acomplisshed the tresoun,
Bar the cuppe which that made hym sterue,
2064
With that strong venym whan he dede hym serue.
2032. thes] be H. .
2037. or] or els H, or ellys H 5. 2038. wer] was H.
2042. And] om. J.
2045. lieilja litil B,J, P. 2061. the] of the B, J.
530 The Story of the Heirs of Alexander [ BK. IV
tay ail who” Antipater, of this crym coupable,
might be Gretli desired in his oppenioun
suspicious of
his treason. §Vpon al tho [for] to be vengable,
That likli wern tespien his tresoun.
Drad hym sore, hauyng suspecioun
List he wer accusid to the statis
Of crym callid [ese magestatis.
His son | ne His sone assentid to that horrible deede,
fatal petal cap) te Which to Alisaundre, beyng in Babiloun,
d
et pe Alea Most traitourli, withoute shame or dreede,
ad made
ect of | As ye han herd, presentid the poisoun.
And yit the kyng, as maad is mencioun,
Thouh he to hym fals was & contrarie,
He made hym prefect, lord of the lond of Carie.
There were | And among other notable werreiours, .
warriors among “Ther wer thre mo, ful worthi & famous,
some slew one Set in the noumbre of his enheritours,
another in
battle; Policarpus & Neptolonius.
And ech of them to other envious,
Withynze a feeld, the stori doth us lere,
Euerich slouh other as thei mette ifeere.
Perdiccas, Of Perdicas* what sholde I write or seyn? —
perhaps
the best knight Which amonge alle was oon the beste kniht,
given Macedonia That whan Alisauzdre lay deieng in certeyn,
lay dying; | And gan to feeble of his force & myht,
Dempte afforn that it sat weel of riht,
How this Perdicas, for wisdam & manheede,
In Macedoyne sholde aftir hym succede.
And onto hym with cheer & look benigne,
Vpon his hed for seeknesse compleynyng,
With ful hool herte for a notable signe,
Of successioun he gaff to hym a ryng,
Afftir his day to be crowned kyng
Of Macedoyne, sithe he myhte most* auaile,
Thoruh al his empire to haue the gouernaile.
sat yet ae egt And yit seith Bochas breeffli in sentence,
his comrades. = “Thouh he of knihthod & [of] hih prowesse,
in prudence
and strength, Qf manli force & also of prudence
vicious pride so
turned his head, Passed al other, the stor berth witnesse,
2068. for to] that J.
2080. notable] nat al H. 2087. Predicas B.
2099. most myhte
2102. 2nd of] om. P.
2068
2072
2076
2084
2088
2092
2100
2104
— eee fe ee <
Ded
BK. Iv ] The Story of the Heirs of Alexander 531
Bi vicious pride & froward boistousnesse
He was mor hyndred, thoruh his owne outrage,
Than al his enmyes myhte doon to hym damage.
For thoruh his pride & gret extorsiouns, 2108 fe drove all
Fro Macedoyne the peeple of that contre pa ee
Fledde into other straunge regeouns. his extortion
And of presumpcioum, the stori seith, how he sumptuously
Began a werre ageyn kyng Tholome, wie
Wher he was slayn in alle mennys sihtis, tlnin By hie.
Nat of his enmyes but of his owne knihtis. own knights.
Eek Anaxarchus of Capadoce kyng, Sig cree arn
Which provynce ioyneth to Surrie, 2116
Touchyng the boundis, be record of wntyng,
Toward thorient the lond of Armenye,
Hauyng too contres, Scilice & Ysaurie
Toward Cipre, & a gret ryueer " g120
Rennyng amyddes with stremes fressh & cleer.
This Anaxarchus, wher he was loth or fayn, gla biay
In daies fewe hath his kyngdam lorn; ioche eee
For bi Perdicas* proudli he was slayn, 2124 Perdiccas.
Off whom that I haue you told beforn.
Thus worldli princis, thouh thei hadde it sworn,
For al ther lordshipe & domynaciouz,
Bi fraude of Fortune vnwarli be put doun. 2128
Amongis othir princis of that age, [p. 23.4] Hrmicar duke
Vpon Alisaundre duely abidyng, aa:
Bochas reherseth, Amulchar of Cartage, captains,
Duk of that cite, bi record of writyng, 2132
Aftir the deth[e] of that worthi kyng,
As ye han herd, Imoordred be poisoun,
This saide Amulchar, reparyng to his toun.
Was slayn in Cartage, shortli to conclude, 2136 Commons of hie
Of cruel malis & conspiracioun city.
Withyne that cite, of fals ingratitude,
Whan he of knihthod fraunchised had the* toun,—
And natwithstandyng al his hih renouz, 2140
Whan he stood hiest in his felicite,
He bi the comouns was slayn of that cite.
2110. regeouns] naciouns H.
2115. Anaxarchus] of Ariarathes P. 2118. lond] lorde H.
2122. Ariarathes P. 2124. Predicas B.
2126. worldli] worthy H.
2134. be] withH. 2139. the] that B.
532 The Story of Eumenes [BK. IV
[How Eumenides was twies outraied by Antigonus/
and atte last / deied in prisoun. |?
pa conse HAN Alisaundre in his roial estat 2143
pee cond nests. Hadde al conquered, toforn as ye ha[ue] herd,
he, was felons and He lik a god, most pompous & elat,
' As souereyn prince of al this myddelerd,
To take upon hym was nothyng afferd
To cleyme in contres, a thyng that was nat fair, 2148
Of Iubiter to be bothe sone & hair.
and this was On of the prynciples, who-so taketh heede,
pia That first brouht in fals ydolatrie,
Was thilke tyme that preestis for fals drede 2152
His name with goddis gan to magnefe,
And so to calle hym of feyned flaterie.
And myd ther temples in Libie on a stage
Of his liknesse thei sette up an image. 2156
nothin for ke But lite or nouht to hym it mihte auaile
died of poison. Ageyn his deth{e] for to doon socour,
Whan the fell poisoun dede his herte* assaille,
Which made hym fade as doth a somer flour. _—2160
Of whos empire was non enheritour,
Sauf in his deiyng, thus stood the woful caas,
Tween sexe & thretti his lond deuided was.
Before hie, And in his story ful pleynli it is told, 2164
nf 2 couch of This departis[iloun, to make it ferme & stable,
is successors. He was leid foorth upon a couch of gold,
To reherse be toknis ful notable F
Whom he dempte of verray soth most hable 2168
Of al his princis, pleynli to discerne,
Whan he wer ded his kyngdam to gouerne.
The first among First ther was oon amongis al that pres,
Eumenes, and Next Alisandre the knihtliest[e] man, 2172
im
Alexander gave, The worth: duc* callid Eumenydes,
Cappadocia and
Paphlagonia. Whos hih renoum ful weel reherse can
Prudent Iustinus, the grete historian.
Ordeyned afforn to gouerne reumys too, 2176
Al Capadoce & Pafflogonie also.
2155. myddes
H.
2159. his here dede B, J, P. 2171. that] be H.
2173. duc] knyht B, J, knight P — Eumenes P.
1 MS. J. leaf 95 recto.
ee
BK. IV ] The Story of Eumenes
His hih noblesse, as maad 1s mencioun,
In especial mor to magnefie,
Hym lakked nouht of comendacioun
That appartened onto cheualrie,
To hih prudence or noble policie,
Except thre thyngis, myn auctour seib the same,
A crowne, a sceptre & a kynges name.
But for that he al othir dede excell
Bothe of prudence & famous cheualrie,
It is remembrid, as summe bookis tell,
533
bnighaly
ightly man,
aad until that
Sine had lacked
2180 Only a crown,
a sceptre and
the name of
king.
2184
Since he
excelled all
men in
chivalry, some
envied him,
That ther wer summe [that] hadde therat envie; 2188
For whan Fortune list to sette up hie
Any persone alofft upon hir wheel,
Summe ar beside that like it neueradeel.
Who halt hym euer upon hih mounteyns
Fynt gret experience of blastis & of shours,
Offt is troubled with storm & wyndi reyns;
So of Alisaundre the proude successours,
Whan thei sat hiest shynyng in ther flours,
Wynd of envie, Fortune heeld so the rother,
That ech was besi to destroien othir.
On hillis hih it is an inpossible
A man tabide withoute wynd or reyn;
A thyng expert & verrafilly visible,
Hih clymbyng up is medlid with disdeyn:
Pres hath envie, as it 1s ofte seyn,
And thoruh preferryng of Fortune in estatis
Is euer caused gret werre & gret debatis.
This same thyng was weel expert & preevid
Among thes saide roial enheritours
Of Alisandre; for ech of hem was greeuid
To seen his felawe regnen in his flours.
And thus atween these myhti successours,
Of fals envie ther gan so gret a striff,
That ech made other for to lese his lyff.
And as it is afforn maad mencioun,
Policarpus & Neptolonius
Bi a maner fals conspiracioun
Ageyn Eumenides wer inli envious.
2188. that] om. J. aan hillis] hihtis H.
2201. verraily] verray J, P. 2203. offten H.
2213. R begins again.
2214] Polipercon and Neptolemus P.
and as most
people who live
on
mountains are
exposed to
winds and
storms, so it
was with the
2196 successors of
Alexander: each
did his best to
destroy the
others.
2192
2200
2204
Not one of
them could bear
to see his
fellow reign in
2208 peace.
2212
[p. 235] Polyperchon and
Neoptolemus
conspired
against
Eumenes, who
slew them both
2216 in battle;
2216. Eumenes P.
534 . _ Lhe Story of Eumenes
Of whos falsnesse he was suspecious,
Til on a day, ther is no mor to seyne,
Meetyng in bataille he slouh hem bothe tweyne.
Aeaaceered For which[e] slauhtre proude Antigonus,
Ricfect of | ~=— Of Macedoyne prefect & gouernour,
greatly Wex in his herte so fel & despitous —
And was with-al a noble werreiour —
With his knihtis dede hooli his labour
Ageyn Eumenides bi marcial apparaille,
A feeld assigned, to holde a gret bataille.
that he set
out against © Made upon hym a proud disconfiture
Eumenes and As thei metten armed briht in steel,
to take refuge And thus Eumenides, of mortal auenture,
“ Fledde at myscheeff into a strong castel,
Wherof his knihtis liked nothyng weel;
For as the stori pleynli maketh mynde, -
That day he fledde & lefft his men behynde.
Secrets od In which castel for he stood destitut,
Analy fed to Fro thens he caste in al haste to flee;
In his gret myscheeff to fynde sum refut
That tyme he drouh hym in-tastrong contre
Sum socour gete auengid for to be,
Callid Argire bi Greekis of entent,
The Latyn corupt of this woord Argent.
a country rich in
silver, and after Of Archiraspedes, a peeple that ther duelle,
Wea ciey her name thei took afftir that regeoun.
were named, ‘The which[e] lond, as olde bookes telle,
Hath of siluer plente & foisoun;
For which{e] cause, bi old descripcioun,
It took his name of nature & of riht,
Because the soil lik syluer shyneth briht.
orden? peste, And of this ile, which hath so gret a pris,
Sorac igs As myn auctour maketh rehersaile,
to Alexander. How the peeple be prouident & wis,
Prudent in armys & manli in bataille,
Bothe to diffende & proudli to assaille.
Which bi ther wisdam & circumspect counsail
To kyng Alisaundre stood in gret auail.
2217. ida was R. 2225. bi] with H — Eumenes P.
2227. uponjon R. 2228. briht armed R.
(BK. Iv
2220
2224
2228
2232
2236
2240
2244
2248
2252
2230. intoajintaH. 2232. makith playaly H. ‘
» J, togett R 3, to
2238. Sum] So R — gete] to get R, to gete
geat P. 2241. Argiraspides P.
BK. Iv ] The Death of Eumenes
And Eumenides, oon of his successours,
As ye han herd[e], drouh to that contre,
Ther to fynde refut & socours
In his myscheeff & gret aduersite.
And with his woordes of gret auctorite,
His noble langage & his fair eloquence,
The peeple had hym in ful gret reuerence.
And for thei wern manli & coraious,
Able tassemble bothe in plate & maile,
He made hem rise ageyn Antigonus,
Bi ther prowesse with hym to hal[ue] bataille.
But of fortune his parti gan to faille,
Wher thilke peeple, the ston tellith thus,
Hadde euer afforn[e] been victorious.
Antigonus hath the feeld recund, :
That day his knihtis fauht lik wood leouns,
In furious teene, of corage assurid,
Brak ther tentis & ther pauelouns,
Spoilled ther castellis, robbed ther dongouns, —
Wher that contre, vnwarli thus affraied,
Hadde neuer afforn in bataile been outraied.
And of despiht this peeple rek[el]les,
Cauht in ther herte gret indignacioun
Ageyn ther prince, this said Eumenydes,
Which hadde hem brouht to ther destruccioun.
And al that peeple, of oon oppynioun,
Presentid hym, it was nat aftir longe,
To Antigonus, bounde in cheynys stronge.
In this processe breefli to proceede,
At gret myscheef he deied in prisoun;
He fond no mercy, pleynli, as I reede,
For al his noblesse nor his hih renoun.
Yit of his manhod it is maad mencioun,
Who that his stori list to looke ariht,
With Alisaundre ther was no bettir kniht.
In his conquest eueri hour & space
He most cherisshed for his hih noblesse;
Aboue al othir stood most in his grace,
To helpe & releue folk in ther distresse,
2255. And] om. H — Eumenes P.
2270. day|om. H. 2273. castell H.
2260
and persuaded
the people to
aid him against
Aatigonus; but
unfortu-
2264 nately the
Argyraspides
were defeated
for the first
time in their
history, and
4 268 robbed of their
possessions,
2272
which enraged
them so that
they delivered
Eumenes up to
Antigonus
in chains,
2276
2280
and he perished
miserably in
2284 prisoa,-—
2288
he who had
before
been
most cherished
2292 by Alexander.
536 An Envoy on the Heirs of Alexander [BK. IV
Al-be that he deied in wrechidnesse:
To vs declaryng the grete variaunces
That al-day falle in Fortunys chauncis. 2296
[4 Lenvoye. }
ite HIS tragedie of Duk Eumenydes _[p. 236]
phews the Sheweth of Fortune be froward doubilnesse,
doubleness of How worldli princis bat be rek[e]les,
With vnwar chaungis fallen in distresse; 2300
And ther may been no gretter heuynesse,
Afftir prosperite, nor no gretter peyne,
Than aduersite which that is sodeyne.
There is no, Grettest envie, wher is grettest p[r]es; 2304
than sudden ; : s 4
ee chee Grettest await, wher is most richesse;
prosperity. And grettest ese wher is rest & pes:
Wher most discord, most is heuynesse.
And of al sorwe, sorwefullest excesse 2308
Is thilke sorwe that doth a man constreyne,
Aftir prosperite aduersite sodeyne.
Where there is ee
Ntt'and weace. Pryncis in erthe, of power pereles,
is greatest ease, Which excelled al other in noblesse, 2312
is most discord, Hadde in this world bi conquest most encres,
heavines. As Alisaundre his stori berth witnesse.
Remembre the* fyn of al ther hih prowesse
And the tryumphes to which thei dide atteyne: 2316
Aftir prosperite aduersite sodeyne.
These powerful The stronge enheritour[s] which bat he out ches,
ander ended in Sixe & thretti, the noumbre to expresse,
sudden : ‘
adversity, six Which hadde pocessioun of kyngdamys dout[e]les,2320
an 1
them, allof Ech thyng obeyeng to ther worthynesse,
wear’ Til Fortune thoruh hir doubilnesse
Possessions. == Shewed hir myht, vnwarli to ordeyne
Afftir prosperite aduersite sodeyne. 2324
Noble Princes, a entzae , 5
avoid discard: Noble Princis, tauoide al disencres,
envy and er, Among your-silff discordes doth represse.
do nothing of Beth nat envious nor irous causeles;
hasty wilfulness, ° See:
lest there be 'Werkith no thyng of hast: wilfulnesse; 2328
adversity. Lat discrecioun been your gouerneresse:
2297. Eumenes P. 2300. chaungeH. 2301. ther] thei R.
2304. pres] pes J, peace P. ;
2308. sorwe] om. H — sorwefullest] sorowfull H.
2309. doth] om. R. 2315. eect B. ;
2318. enheritour R—he] be R, H. 2320. possessions R.
2327. nor] ne H.
a i ee
BK. Iv | The Story of Queen Olympias
For ther mut folwe, iff ye parte on tweyne,
Aftir prosperite aduersite sodeyne.
537
[How queene Olimpiades for she delited in vices
moordre and vengeaunce deied atte mischeeff. | !
EXT in ordre to Bochas dede appeere,
Afftir the myscheef of Eumenides,
The grete queen, witb a ful pitous cheer,
Moodir of Alisaundre, Olympiades,
Born of the lyne of Eacides;*
Among queenys, hir stori berth witnesse,
Excellid al other of beute & richesse.
She was douhtir to Neptolonius,
The myhti kyng of Epirothes,
And hadde suspect how Neptanabus
Bi enchauntement put hymsilff in pres
Of wifli trouthe to make hir rek[el]les.
But Bochas heer, for to saue hir name,
Writ but a litil of hir sclaundrous diffame.
This said[e] queen, riht fair of hir visage,
Was firste brouht foorth in thilke regiouns,
Wher all the worthi of blood & of lynage
Heeld ther sceptris & ther riche crouns,
Thoruhout al Grece with ful pocessiouns;
So that this queen that tyme nih & ferre
Was of beute callid the lode-sterre.
But among al hir gret prosperite,
Hir youthe flouryng in most souereyz noblesse,
Hir ioie was medlid witb gret aduersite,
Whan Phelipp Macedo, to hir gret heuynesse,
Was mortalli woundid in distresse,
In Cithia bacerteyn nacioun
Callid Tribalois, as maad is mencioun.
For in that contre upon a certeyn day,
Wher-as he fauht & dede his besi peyne
To gete a cite, & at the siege lay,
2330.
2333.
2336.
2339.
2343.
2361.
ther] chat R — ye parte] the party R.
Eumenes P.
Eacides] Gacides B, R, Gaades J.
to] of R — Neoptolemus P.
hir] hym R.
fauht] fauh H. 2362. lay] late H.
1 MS. J. leaf 96 recto.
After Eumenes,
2332 Olympias
appeared before
8.
She excelled all
other queens in
beauty and
wealth,
2336
and was
cnusntcs of
eoptolemus.
2340 It was
suspected that
Nectanebes had
been her lover,
but Bochas
wrote little of
1 2
2344"
She was
very fair, and
called the lode-
star of beauty.
2348
2352
Her joy was
turned to
adversity when
her husband,
Philip,
2356
lost one of his
2360 eyes at_
a siege in
Scythia;
2341. Nectanabus P.
538 The Story of Queen Olympias [ BK. IV
And for thassaut dede his stuff ordeyne,
He lost vnwarli oon of his eien tweyne, 2364
That whan the queen beheeld his sodeyn wounde,
She fill for sorwe * euene plat to grounde.
and her good = Another thyng, bookis specefie,
jured by the _ Troubled hir fame bi gret heuynesse: 2368
adultery with The suspect sclaundre of auout([e]rie
' Wrouht bi Neptanabus enchauntyng hir fairnesse,
The liht eclipsyng of hir hih noblesse
Be swifft[e] report for to hyndre hir name,— —_2372
What fleeth mor swift than doth wikked fame?
Wealy chan’ In womanheede, as auctours alle write,
evil report? = Most thyng comendid is ther chast honeste;
royal blood =Thyng most sclaundrous ther noblesse tatwite, 2376
against it? : ‘ ‘
Is whaz princessis of hasti freelte
Exceede the boumdis of wifli chastite:
For what auaileth lynage or roial blood,
Whan of ther lyuyng the report is nat good? —2380
The voice of The hooli bed diffouled of mariage, [p. 237]
ne Lae Or onis soilled may nat recurid be;
‘The vois goth forth & the froward langage
Bi many rewm & many gret cite. 2384
Sclaundre hath a* custum, & that is gret pite,
Trewe outher fals, bi contagious soun
Onis reised [up] it goth nat lihtli douz.
To make
matters stil! And to mor hyndryng of Olympiades, 2388
tied tel Philip Phelipp from hir dede awey* declyne;
took Cleopatra, And of the kyng of Epirothes
wife of
Alexander of The wif he took[e] to his concubyne,
concubine. Callid Cleopatra, pleynli to termyne. 2392
And thus in myscheeff to encrece hir trouble,
Ther fals auoutry gan to wexe double.
2363. ordeyne] ordey H.
2366. For sorwe a fill B, R— to] to the R.
2373. doth] om. J, P. 2377- freelte] cruelte H.
2381. diffouled] defoyled
2382. nat] om. H.
2383. MS. J, “nota de scandalo,” tn scribe’s band tn red,
margin of leaf 9 verso.
2385. alof B, J, R—&]om. H — gret] om. J, H
2386. outher] or H — contagious] a contagious R 3, Hs.
2387. up] om. R, J, R3, Hs.
2380. awey dede from hie B, TR
BK. Iv | The Story of Olympias
Off this processe write I will no more,
Cause the mateer is abhomynable;
For kyng Phelipp the bargeyz bouhte sore,
As is remembred be cronicles ful notable,
Slayn on a day sittyng at his table,
Ful sodenli or he took any heede; —
Pausanias dede that cruel deede.
Of which[e] slauhtre folwed a straunge cas,
As ye han herd, bi Pausanias wrouht:
Olympiades ful glad & murie was,
Heuy outward, hir herte void of thouht;
Yit feynyngli she hath out weies souht
For hym to holde solempne & roiall
Lik Greekis rihtis a feeste funerall.
Aftir whos deth, wrouht of gret cruelte,
Kyng Alisaundre maad no lenger let,
Made Pausanias taken for to bee
And to been hangid upon an hih gibet,
Vpon whos hed ther was a crowne set
Of gold & perle & riche stonis Inde
Be Olympiades, in story as I fynde.
For he stood gretli in the queenis grace;
And as folke dempte of suspecioun,
Thei mette togidre in many preve place,
Which gretli turned to hir confusioun;
For noise aroos thoruh al that regeoun,
That be thoccasiou of ther misleuyng,
How Pausanias slouh Phelipp the kyng.
But she anon in hir malis feruent
Fro the gebet made hym be take doun,
Made his bodi solempneli be brent,
Kept his exequies with gret oblacioun*
Aftir the rihtis of that regeoun,
Nat left behynde in parti nor in all
That appartened to feestis funerall.
Vpon kyng Phelipp, as it wer for the nonys
To doon hir lord a shame & [a] despiht,
2396
2400
2404
2408
2412
2416
2420
2424
2428
Solempneli she made brenne the bonis 2432
2396. is] is so H.
2417. as]}om. R. 2420. thoruh] thoruhout H.
2424. be] to be R. 2425. be] to be R.
2426. exequias R — oblablacioun B. 2431. alom. R.
539
Thus there was
adultery on
both sides, until
Philip was slain
at his table by
Pausanias.
Olympias’
sorrow was
feigned;
and when
her son
Alexander
hanged
Pausanias,
she set a
rich crown on
his head,
for he had
been her lover
and stood high
in her favour.
is caused
stil] more
scandal.
She then had
him taken down
from the
eles and his
ody was burnt
with royal
ceremonies
on that of King
Philip, to do
her lord a shame
and a despite.
540 The cruel Nature of Olympias (BK. IV
Of Pausanias, for a fals appetit, — 2
Vnto no man she hadde so gret delite;*
For which this feste was lik in alle thynges
To thexequies of princis & of kynges. 2436
She also made She made his suerd[e] also to be take,
an offering to
Apollo of the With which he slouh Phelipp the grete kyng,
mich he killed Offrid it up onli for his sake
Toforn Appollo, be record of writyng. 2440
Which to hir was sclaundre & gret hyndryng,
Caused folk deeme in ther entent,
To slen kyng Phelipp how she was of assent.
vieancre was 10 been cruel was set al hir plesaunce: 2444
ect on cruelty. For merciles, void of al pite,
Cleopatra to On Cleopatre causyng this vengaunce,
and murdered That she hirsilff[e] heeng upon a tre;
sees Moordrid hir douhtir, the stori ye may see. 2448
What malis may, yif it be declared,
Vnto the malis of wommen be compared?
No malice can I speke of them that be malicious
ceiviag ice'of And list of custum for to be vengable: 2452
oe thousand Among a thousand oon may be vertuous,
virtuous, one in And in too thousand sum oon is merciable;
two thousan
merciful; aod But whan thei been of rancour vntretable,
when enraged, Ther is no tigre mor cruel dout{e]les, 2456
more cruel. = Record I take off Olympiades.
p7mpias sett And she of malis was mor set affire
strong because ‘T’execute boldli hir vengaunce,
exander had : : =
conquered Bi thoccasioun of the gret empire 2460
Of Perse & Mede, ful famous in substaunce,
Which stood be conquest vnder the gouernaunce
Of Alisaundre, wherbi she thouhte hir strong
Tacheve ech thyng, wher it wer* mht or wrong. 2464
was powoued in Dempte hir poweer sholde ay contune [p. 238]
Babylon. Bi the mene of his hih mageste.
God is strenger than the queen Fortune,
Which suffred hir sone in his most dignite 2468
In Babiloyne poisouned for to bee,
As is remembred in many old histories,
Aftir his tryumphes & [al] his gret victories.
2434. delite] despiht B, R, J, P. 2436. To] of H.
2454. is] may be H. 2459. Texecute] Execute R.
2464. wher] whether eet be B, R, J, P, Hs.
2465. ayjayweyR. 2471. aljom. P — gret] om. R, J, hih H.
BK. Iv ] The Story of Olympias 541
But for to passe breeffli by* writyng, _ agza She governed
Touchyng this queen, as maad 1s mencioun, like a wolves.
Whan ded was Phelipp, the famous myhti kyzg,
She hadde off Macedoyne ful pocessioun,
And gouerned that myhti regioun, 2476
Wher lik a woluesse, as auctours of hir write,
To shede blood she gan hirsilff delite.
In hir tirannye most feruent & irous, i gadads
Reioisshede in slauhtre & to see men bleede; 2480 Malicious.
For serpent non was mor malicious
Than was this queen, in bookis ye may reede.
Yit afftir al this she resceyued hir meede;
For thouh Fortune fauoured hir a while, 2484
Yit with hir treynes she koude hir weel begile.
The eende of tirauntis & eek of tiraunessis, bee eledbeae
And of moordreris, be thei neuer so wood, poisonmongers
Of poisounmongeris & enchaurteressis, 2488 tresses have
Of fals supplantours, contrarie to all good,
And of conspireres & them that thriste blood, —
Alle thes muste han bi Goddis purueyaunce
Heer short liff or sodenli vengaunce. 2492
In Macedoyne this queen was most behatid ene eee
For hir vengable mortal oppressioun; Macedon,
And Cassander ageyn hir hath debatid Cassander
And gunnze a werre upon hir regeoun, 2496 on her,
Which Talisaundre mynystrid the poisoun,
As ye han herd, afforn of hym deuised,
Bi Antipater most mortalli practised.
She fond no reffut, but took hir to the fliht, asoo. ee
This cruel queen, this Olympiades, stronghold
Into a mounteyn that stood ferr out of siht;
And of hir kyn ther folwed hir gret pres,
Supposyng talyued ther in pes. 2504
For on that hill stood a gret dongoun,
Strongli walled abouten enviroun,
° e bt Epid ’
Which that marchid to a gret cite where che was
Callid Epidna, stondyng in gret doute, 2508 besiceed by
Because Cassander of old enmyte captured by
2472. by] the B, R, to the J.
2492. Heer] Outhir her H — or cde on sodeyn R.
2496. hirjhisR,aH. 2504. talyuedj ta lyven H.
542 The Death of Olymptas [BK. Iv
Hadde for hir leide a seege [al] aboute.
And non was hardi for to issen oute,
Til Cassander, of fals compassed tresoun, 2512
Made with them a composicioun.
sauanese, His feith was leid that tyme for hostage,
that she might Bi oth assurid to Olympiades,
ive in peace, : a
Bi couert fraude vnder fair langage, 2516
To suffren hir with hym to lyue in pes.
But of his promys, he fals & rek[e]les,
For vnder trete, as maad is mencioun,
The queen he took & cast hir in prisoun. 2520
oom’ ** But wil ye seen a roial hih corage,
ed f :
fio ake taead How boldeli, delyuered fro prisoun,
er enemics She descendid, imperial of visage, |
with imperial : ‘ £ . ;
courage, With al hir maidnes aboute hir enviroun, 2524
Hir enmyes present, wodere than leoun,
Seyng hir stonde so statli of hir face, —
Whan thei wer proudest tareste hir & manace.
attired for the
cccation like aa SHE was arraied of purpos for the nonys, 2528
empressinrich, As seith Bochas, in most statli wise;
purple and gold. . : 7 2
In riche purpil, gold & precious stonis,
Lik an emperesse in the Grekissh guise.
Hir list nat fleen, the stori doth deuise, 2532
With cry nor noise passed nat hir boundis,
Whan that hir blood douz railled from hir woundis.
She did not . ° : .
try to crespe, One nat affraied in al hir mortal shourfe]s;
even when the Void of al feer[e] list nat bowe hir chyne, 2536
from her Make no praieer to hir tormentourf[e]s,
wounds.
Nor no tokne of corage femynyne.
Vpriht she stood{[e], list nat doun declyne,
Gaff euidence*, as it is comprehendid, 2540
Of what lyne & blood she was descendid.
She stood erect For vnto tyme that she gaf up the breth,
and shewed of
what line she . :
what line she’ Was neuer sey[e]n prince nor princesse
Never did a ‘That mor proudli took ther fatal deth. 2544
Princess die For as I deeme, hir marcial hardynesse
more proudly. Cam from Bellona, of armys cheef goddesse;
Outher she hadde it bynfluence of corage
Youe bi the goddis to hire & hir lynage. 2548
2511. issen] isshu H. 2516. fair] fals H.
2531. the] ther H—Grekis R. 2533. nor] & H.
2536. cheyne R, cheyn H.
2540. euidence] Euidencis B, R, J,R3,Hs5,P. 2546. froR.
BK. Iv] An Envoy on Olympias
Force is a vertu, bookis spesefie,
Ageyn al vices to make resistence;
But froward rancour & wood* malencolie
Gaff hir a spirit of feyned pacience,
A fals pretence of hih* magnificence,
Ascauns* she hadde been in vertu strong,
For trouthe to haue endurid eueri wrong.
Contrarious force made hir despitous,
Strong in hir errour to endure peyne;
Of obstynat herte she was fell & irous,
In dethis constreynt list nat to compleyne.
Countirfet suffraunce made hir for to feyne;
Nothyng of vertu, pleynli to termyne,
Nor of no manerys* that be femynyne.
In hir entrailles al malis was enclosed
And al contagious venym serpentyne,
Nat lik a woman, but as a feend disposid,
Able to destroie al vertuous disciplyne:
Thus she began; thus she dede fyne.
In vicious moordre she dede hir ay delite,
Wherfor of hire me list no mor tendite.
q Lenvoye.
Att ye that shal this tragedie see,
Of routhe & merci hath compassioun,
To seen a princesse from hir imperial see
So vnwarli by Fortune throwe doun.
Of whos myscheeff this was thoccasioun,
543
Power is a
virtue to resist
vice; but it
was perverse
rancour and
mad rage that
2552 he her a
alse pretence
of magnificence.
[p. 239
2556 pormacy kept
complaining;
there was
neither virtue
nor womanli-
ness in her.
2560
Her nature was
like that of a
256 4 fiend.
2568
Have com-
Passion on this
Princess, 80
suddenly
thrown down
2572 by Fortune.
That in thre thynges was set most hir plesaunce:
In vicious lust*, in moordre & in vengaunce.
Alas, that euer the mortal cruelte
Of bloodi suerd bi execucioun
Sholde been approprid to femynyte,
Ageyn the nature of ther condicioun!
Causyng the fynal sclaundrous confusioun
2576
Alas, that
women should
be so
unnatural as to
aw the
sword!
2580
es] k R.
ere ee Rs fale
2551. wood ] proud B, R, J. 2553. hih] ae . hir R.
2554. Ascauns] As aaa B, skawns R
2559. constreynt]compleynt
2562. manerys] mannys uk J; R 3, H, anne H s.
2563. And in hir entraile H 2565. as] like H
2569. tendite] endite H. 2 75.
2576. lust] lyf B, R, J, ie — rd |
R 3. 2580. the] om.
544 An Envoy on Olymptas (BK. Iv
Of Olympiades, heer put in remembraunce,
For vicious lust, moordre & fals vengaunce.
ihe serpent ~='Vinder fressh flours, riht soote & fair to see,
rep aeorce, The serpent dareth with his couert poisoun.
lie beneath = Jn cristal watres that calm & smothe* bee
crystal waters. ‘ ° °
Arn pereillous pettis ful of decepcioun.
Men seen alday bi cleer inspeccioun
In feynyng facis angelik suffisaunce;
Hid vndir-nethe rancour & gret vengaunce.
Though she = Thouh she excellid of hir natiff beute
aici aer 2 othir princfess]is of that regeoun,
ever more § Was neuer sey/e]n feller non than she,
savage and : ;
revengelul. To execute lik hir oppenyoun
The pereilous treynys contreued of tresoun,
And specialli in hir pompous greuaunce,
Wher she hated, for to do vengaunce.
Noble Prin- Noble Princessis, set hih in dignite,
merciful and ~~ Doth aduertise of discrecioun,
temper your. In your most poweer & largest liberte
indignation with ‘
pity. Beth merciable & doth remyssioum,
Sugreb with pite your indignacioun,
Lat grace & merci tempre your hih puissaunce,
Of Olympiades eschewyng the vengau(n]ce.
Cankered _, Exilith rigour ferr out of contre,
rancour does not , . ve
belong to, = Yiue hym with you no turediccioun.
tnd where To womanheede longeth nat, parde,
grace abounds. Of cancred rancour newe execucioun.
Wher mercy regneth, of grace ther is foisoun,
Hath this in mynde bi long contynvaunce,
Of Olympiades forgetyng the vengaunce.
let patience _ Lat pacience bi vertuous plente
hearts; Withynze your hertis purchace a mansioun;
Lat your compassioun attempren equite,
That riht exceede nat the boundis of resoun,
So that your femynyn humble entencioun
Be alway bridled be prouident suffraunce,
Voidyng al excessis of rigour & vengaunce.
2584. faire & soote H.
2586. smothe] soote B, R, soot J.
2584
2588
2592
2596
2600
2616
2589. feynyn femynyne H, H 5, femynyn R 3, feminine P.
2597. forjom.R. 2600. largest] lagest R.
2602. your pite with H.
~~" the
+ rite
BK. Iv |
For it is said of old auctorite,
To wommen longeth bi disposicioun
Meeknesse in langage, in port humylite,
In al vertu humble subiecciouz,
Void of manacis, striff & contencioun,
So that no man in your attendaunce
Espie no tokne of rancour nor vengaunce.
The especial mene, the parcialite
Sholde of al merci be descripsioun
Rebounde to women; for of antiquite
The lamb nat vsed to pleie the leoun,
Nor no meek dowue envied the faucoun.
Nor to your sect, bi natural accordaunce,
Sitt nouther rigour nor hasti fel vengaunce.
This symple Lenvoie, resceyueth it at gre
And hath therof non indignacioun,
Lowli direct to your benignite
Onli of meeknesse & no presumpcioun,
Knowyng of kynde your inclynacioun
Disposed is bi natural purueiaunce
Vnto al merci, & nothyng onto vengaunce.
Agathocles the low-born Tyrant
545
for it is said
of old, that
meexzness an
2620 bumility are
appropria
to womankind.
2624
does the dove
2628 pena
falcon.
2632
Let this simple
[p. 240] envoy not
end you, for
it is lowly
di
our benignity
2636 es aga
knows that your
nature is dis-
posed to mercy.
[How Agathodes of lowe birthe born atteyned to
roial dignite/ ended in pouerte and wrecchid-
nesse. | !
I HAUE herd seid of ful yore agon,
A whirle-wynd[e], blowing nothing softe,
Was in old Inglissh callid a rodion,*
That reiseth duste & strauh ful hih alofte.
And in thascendyng (it falleth so ful ofte),
Thouh it be bor[e]n almost to the skie,
Wher it becomth ther can no man espie.
2629. 2nd the] witb be H.
2630. dowue] doun (?) H — Facoun H.
2633. This stanza is omitted in H.
rises, no man
can say what
becomes of it.
2644
2640. The Explicit to Book IV and Incipit to the Prologue of Book
2644. it]is H. 2645. to] in to H, R 3.
1 MS. J. leaf 97 verso.
546 Agathocles. Crowns are not suitable for Knaves [BK. Iv
Smoke often ~=Qut of forgis bi fire bat smethis make,
ascenas
mountain high; Bi cleer experience it is ful ofte seyn, 2648
but just as
often, when That thes infernal ougli smokes blake
comes, it. Transcende the coppe of many gret mounteyn;
descends 28!" But ofte sithe bi a ful sodeyn reyn
Al such ascenciouns, bi rage of wynd up blowe, 2652
Witb vnwar tourn be reuersed & brouht lowe.
One of the § And semblably to putte it at a preeff
greatest of ; :
misfortunes And execute it bi cleer experience,
is when
a low-born On the moste contrarious myscheeft 2656
wretc e e e 7
is lifted to Founde in this erthe, bi notable euidence,
high estate.
Is onli this: bi fortunat violence
Whan that a wrech[e], cherlissh of nature,
Thestat of princis vnwarli doth recure. 2660
A crown of
gold is nor. A crowne of gold is nothyng accordyng
suitable for the For to be set upon a knauis hed;
head of a
knave, i
ETRE A foltissh clerk for to were a ryng
clerk wear a Accordeth nothyng, who that kan take heed. 2664
= And in this world ther is no gretter dreed
Than poweer youe, yif it be weel souht,
Vnto such on that first roos up of nouht.
We do not set : ° °
precious Guants Ther is no maner iust convenience, 2668
in copper; and A roial charboncle, rubie or garnet,
political power Nor a chast emeraud of vertuous excellence,
is lost when
knaves have Nor ynde saphirs in coper to be set, —
sovernan- Ther kyndli poweer in foul metal is let; 2672
And so thestat of politik puissaunce
Is lost wher-euer knaues haue gouernaunce.
wit? For a tyme thei may weel up ascende,
smokes; and a [ik wyndi smokes ther boistous fumys spreede. 2676
crowned ass
i to be 1 1
is more to be A crownid asse, pleynli to comprehende,
a lion. Void of discreciouz is mor for to dreede
Than is a leoun: for the ton in deede
Of his nature is myhti & rotall; 2680
Void of discrecioun, the tothir bestiall.
The lion is ~~ The gentil nature of a strong leoun
those who lie To prostrat peepl[e] of kynde is merciable;
im; the For vnto all that falle afforn hym doun 2684
crowned ass ° ° °
is alwayscruel. His roiall puissaunce cannat be vengable.
2648. offten H.
2654. semblable R. 2659. a_wrech] wrecches J.
2679. ajom. H. 2682. The] This R.
BK. Iv] Churlish Wolves and foltish Asses are always cruel 547
But cherlissh wolues, bi mgour vntretable,
And foltissh assis, eek of bestialite,
Failyng resoun, braide euer on cruelte. 2688
Non is so proud as he that can no good, Seapera
The leudere hed, the mor presumpcioun, Sere
Most cruelte & vengaunce in louh blood, ignorance and
Wher malepertnesse, ther indiscrecioun. 2692 impudence and
Of cherl & gentil make this dyuisiou: taeda hand
Of outher of them I dar riht weel reporte,
The stok thei cam fro, therto thei wil resorte.
The rose knowe be colour & suetnesse, S606. be ree and
the violet and
And violettis for ther fressh tarage, perhes and
The netle rouh{e] for his fel sharpnesse, always hae
Thistlis, breeris prikyng bi gret outrage: rudeness is in-
a variably found
And thus considred the rote of ech lynage, 2700 in the line of
Froward techchis been euer in cherlis founde, a
Wher vnto gentilesse ay vertu doth rebounde.
Lat men bewar in special of o thyng, remember that
How gret decepcioun is in fals coignage: 2704 that act sold
The plate may be briht in his shewyng, bright;
The metal fals & shewe a fair visage.
Al is nat gold, to speke in pleyn langage,
That shynith briht; concludyng of* resoun, 2708
Vnder fair cheer is ofte hid fals poisoun.
For as a skie or an ougli cloude sa Naeit l
Which that ascendith lowe out of the se, mite ct asture
And with his blaknesse doth the sunne shroude, 2712 ugly black
That men may nat his gret[e] brihtnesse see thevsans
Nor haue no counfort of his cleer beute,
So vicious techchis, I do you weel assure,
Difface ful ofte the giftes of nature. 2716
God onto summe hath youen bi nature (px 241) Coc tae mage
For to excellen another in fairnesse; ae rear
Yit in vicis, be record of scripture,
Thei wer disclaundred, Bochas berth witnesse: 2720
Outward sugre, inward bittirnesse.
Bi which exaumple, to purpos I may call
Agathodes, fulfilled of vices all.
2690. Wher] kha P — malapertnesse R, J, R 3, malapertenesse
malapertnes P
2703. bewar] ware R. 2708. of]on B,J, Hs, R
2709. offten H — hid] om. R.
2717. hath] as R. 2723. Agathocles P.
548 The Story of Agathocles, the low-born Tyrant (BK. Iv
derive kis In this stori he kometh now on the ryng, 2724
outrageous life, Which of beute hadde passyng excellence;
the paper I But to declare his vicious lyuyng
And to descryue his outraious offence, —
Yif I sholde writen in sentence 2728
Lik his demerites hooli the maneer,
It wolde thoruh perse & blotte my paper.
He was the ~~ ‘Touchyng his berthe, of louh[e] bed descendid,
son of a potter
and te0 proud Sone of a pottere, the story ye may see, 2732
father’s trade. In no vertu I fynde hym nat comendid,
Except nature gaff hym gret beute.
Fostrid in myscheeff & in gret pouerte,
Hadde eek disdeyn, I can hym nat excuse, 2736
Of hatful pride his fadris craft to vse.
Through hit Bi the mene of his gret fairnesse
e rose to high To hih estat he cam fro louh degre;
estate, and ene ; ‘
although he was Yit in a vice which I wil nat expresse 2740
1 ° e e e e
and unnatural, He disusid cursidli his beute
eae Ageyn nature, that euel mut he* the.
And soiled he was, shortli to specefie,
With al the vicis* of pride & lecherie. 2744
God allowed him Vit natwithstondyng his fals condiciouns,
iekidoged via God suffred hym to come to hih estat,
And to gouerne dyuers naciouns,
I fynde a while how he was fortunat, 2748
In his lecherie ay pompous & elat;
And in a cite callid Ciracuse
The said[e] vices he frowardli* gan vse.
In Syracuse he And for he hadde beute & gret myht, 2752
had the com-
mand of one = “T'9 alle vices his youthe he dede enclyne,
nuneres En8°* And koude also foorthre hymsilf ariht,
Of elloquence expert in the doctryne.
And, as is said, thouh he cam of low lyne, 2756
Yit, as it is put in remembraunce,
An hundred kEnihtis he hadde in gouernaunce.
and purchased
«© Ghee af ©Off centurien he purchacid an offis,
Anterwsrds he And that tyme he took the ordre of kniht; 2760
was chosen a Aftir chose a tribun of gret pris,
tribune and : .
finally he was And gat gret fauour in the peeplis siht.
2727. offence] diffence H. 2742. he] thei B, R, J.
2744. vicis] spicis B, R, H, spices J, R 3, spyces H 5, spises P.
2751. he frowardli] frowardli he B, R, } 2756. as] as it H.
BK.1v] Tbe Story of Agathocles, the low-born Tyrant 549
And in this while, it fill so anon mht,
Of Siracusis he was maad duk & hed
Bi eleccioun, because ther lord was ded.
Which with Siciliens heeld a mortal stiff;
But Agathodes made hem* victorious,
Took ther duchesse aftir to his wiff,
Bi mene wheroff he wex ful glorious.
And in his glorie he greuh riht despitous,
Forgat hymsilff, thus growyng in estat,
Wherthoruh his cite & he wer at debat.
His condicioun whan thei gan espie,
And sauh hym werke al of presumpcioun,
The peeple anon, knowyng his tirannye,
Exilid hym out of ther regioun.
In his exil, as maad is mencioun,
He coude fynde no bettir cheuisaunce,
But cam tacite that callid was Murgaunce.
Wher bi his sleihti sotil fals auis,
He so demened hym in the peeplis siht,
That of a pretor thei gaff hym an offs,
He meuyng them in al that euer he miht
Geyn Siracusis to make hem stronge & fiht,
Of entent on them tauenged bee,
Cause for his exil out of that cite.
But in [his] exil, the stori seith non othir,
It was so wrouht bi mediacioun
Of duk Amulchar, that was his sworn brother,
Siracusanis off oon entencioun
Callid [him] hom ageyn into ther tou;
And ther he was restored to his place
And reconsiled to the peeplis* grace.
And vnto hym thei gaf be gret auis,
Bassent of lordis & al the comounte,
Of a pretor newli an offis.
For pretores of custom callid be
Officers that duelle in a* cite,
And han ful charge bi doom & iugementis
To putte al gilti to peyne & to tormentis.
2767.
2773-
2775;
2791.
2793.
Agathocles P — he
condiciouns H — gan | did H.
knowyng his] all of
him] om. H, ay R 3, H
peeplis | kyngis
oe a] the B, R, J.
2764
He defeated the
Sicilians and
married their
duchess, and,
2768 increasing in
magnificence
and power,
2772
grew proud
quarrelled with
his city.
2776
is ple
2780 He Sore to
Mourgantia,
where he
me a
pretor and
tried he stir
up strife
2784 against
Syracuse in
revenge.
Duke Hamilcar
Permuace: the
2788 yracusans to
restore him;
and after the
reconciliation
they also made
him a pretor.
2792
2796
2800
550 The Story of Agathocles, the low-born Tyrant [BK. Iv
Armed with Than of newe this Agathodes, [p. 242]
new authority,
he caused all Because he hadde mor auctorite,
be slain, Caste for to trouble the quiete & the pes
Of Siracusis; & out of that cite 2804
Alle the senatours grettest of dignite,
- Of mortal vengaunce this tiraunt made anon
Withoute excepcioun be slayn euerichon.
and not coateat This hasti slauhtre wrouht bi tirannye 2808
pillaged tae, Miht nat assuage nor staunche his fel corage,
and caped she Til he ther tresours took bi robberie,
And al Sicile he spoiled be pillage.
Cast of pride upon an hier stage 2812
For tascende bi sleihti fals werkyng,
Of al that regeoun he to be crowned kyng.
by the dvte of Made his subgettis, maugre them, hym dreedyng,
arthage, To calle hym kyng, and in especiall, 2816
Oon the most worthi prince tho lyuyng
That sat in chaier of mageste roiall,—
Til Fortune shoop he muste haue* a fall;
For of Cartage the duk, a worthi kniht, 2820
Fauht with hym twies & put hym to the fliht.
pe returned homeWherthoruh he stood in myscheef disespeired,
And of al peeple he was had in disdeyn;
To Siracuse in haste he is repeired 2824
And to his cite retourned hom ageyn, i
Ther abidyng in dreed & noun certeyn, —
For whan Fortune gan ageyn hym take,
His freendis olde of newe han hym forsake. 2828
sree ctitg In that myscheeff he abood nat long,
Cacates tbe, As the processe maketh rehersaille,
Gadred peeple & made hymseluen strong,
Onli in purpos al Affrik to assaille, 2832
With them of Cartage hadde a gret bataille,
Them discounfited, as Fortune list ordeyne,
Bi hih prowesse of his sonis tweyne.
with the help ~Artagathus Icallid was the ton, 2836
a hasitide Wonder delyuer, a man of gret[e] myht,
and Heraclida. ‘The seconde brother, most worthi of echon,
2818. chaer R. 2819. haue] han B.
2831, 32 are transposed in R, but correction indicated.
2832. for tassaile H, R3, Hs5. 2834. discounfortéed R.
2836. Archagathus P. 2837. a] & a B, H, R, Hs, R 3.
BK. 1v] The Story of Agathocles, the low-born Tyrant 551
Callid Eraclida, which in that mortal fiht
Preue
d hymsilff that day a manli kniht; 2840
For bi ther manhod, in which ther was no lak,
Thei of Cartage wer felli put abak.
For thouh so were bi fortune of the werre Lt ola
Agathodes hadde that day victorie, 2844 Orne
Fals couetise made hym for to erre
And eclipsed the liht of his glorie.
For as it is remembred in historie,
Lik as his berth, as it toforn termyned, 2848
To al falsnesse his corage was enclyned.
Cruel of custum, of herte merciles, a ae
His will was lawe, wher it were* wrong or riht; stiasel ie
Contrarie taccord, frowar[d] vnto pes, 2852 tyrant.
Proud & surquedous in his owne siht
Wher his poweer strechchid & his myht,
Lik a tiraunt natureli disposed
Texecute vengaunce afforn purposed. 2856
He thouhte he hadde poweer for to bynde belgesel
Fortunis wheel for to abide* stable, ee
Which is a thyng contrarie to hir kynde, wheal the
Whos propirte is to be variable: 2860 which is to be
° ~ unstable;
His pride, alas, was to abhomynable;
For mortal prynce is non that may restreyne
Hir vnwar tourn nor hir cours sodeyne.
Bi influence of the heuenli sterris, 2864 sa pied
The vnkouth cours aboue celestial, pelo An?
Bi Fortune, & fauour of the werris, caused him
This Agothodes, of berthe but* rurall, is
Promooted was vnto estat roiall. 2868
Til pride, outrage & froward engendrure
Caused in his lordship he myht nat long endure.
Fortune of kynde is so flaskisable, ce
A monstruous beeste departed manyfold, 2872 slippery 10 te
A slidyng serpent, turnyng & vnstable, no hold on her.
Slepir to gripe; on whom ther is non hold,
2839
f
8
2870.
2874
8
2858.
. Heraclida P— which] with R. 2843. the] that R.
. Ist as] om. H, R 3, H 5, P—it toforn] it toforn is H,
3, itis tofforn H 5. 2851. were] was B, om. J.
tabide B. 2864. enfluence R.
. Agathocles P — but] ful B, R, J, P, Hs.
. engendrure] aventure H, engendur R 3.
nat] om.
. Slepir] Slipir H, R 3, Sliper J, P, Slyper H 5 — non] no R.
552 The End of Agathocles [BK. Iv
As in this book declared is & told,
Hir poweer preeued on princis rek[e]les:
Record with other on Agathodes.
te ee As ye han herd rehersed in sentence,
and rose to Symple & bare was his natyuite,
his fall was ~~ Brouht up & fostred in gret indigence,
grievous because Out of a stok spryngyng of pouerte,
eee Roos to thestat of roial dignite.
The* risyng vnkouth, merueilous tatteyne,
The fal mor greuous because it was sodeyne.
From Siracuse he was exiled twies; [p.
Vengable* of herte wher he hadde myht.
Of Affrican[e]s disconfited thries;
Euer in bataile of custum put to fliht.
Hadde an vsaunce to robbe day & niht,
And lik a tiraunt, ageyn conscience,
To spoile his subiectis bi rauynous violence.
His two Hyndred bi Fortune, wherof he was nat fayn,
eons were slain
in Africa; and) Hir strook ageyn hym sodeyn & violent:
he became weak ~~ | : : .
in his limbs and His sonis two in Affrik were* first slayn,
was stricken by ° .
pestilence. He of his lymys wex feeble & impotent.
With a consumpciouz his entrailles brent,
And bi an agu, contynuel of feruence,
He was supprised bi strook of pestilence.
He lost his Al his tresour [Fortune] hath fro hym take,
wealth, his kin,
his wife and = His proude port & his worldli glorie;
victories wer His kyn, his freendis & wif hath hym forsake,
name eclipsed, His conquest dirk & put out of memorie:
ane alary _ His name clipsed of al his old victorie.
And as he gan in pouert & distresse,
So he made an eende in wrechidnesse.
Men expect to Hasti risyng, & thrifft that is sodeyne,
fall after « And surmountyng bi violent rauyne,
atest And extort poweer, may for a tyme atteyne
In riche chaier of lordshipe for to shyne.
Sodeyn ascendyng doth sodenli declyne;
And bi vntrouthe, wher-euer ther be encres,
Men waite of custum a sodeyn disencres.
2876. Hir] His R. ae The] Ther B, R, J, P.
2886. Vengable] Vengabli
2876
2880
2892
2896
2900
2904
2908
2912
B, R, J, P. 2894. were] was B.
2895. Inpotent RR. 2897. AgweR. 2899. Fortune]om. R, J.
2901. &] his H. 2903. His] be H. 2904. &] & in H.
2907. rauyne}] Rapyne H, R 3, H s.
2909. chistes chaar H — for] om. fi
2gii. ther] om. R.
BK. Iv | An Envoy on Royal Blood
Of Agathodes men may exaumple take,
What 1s the eende of eueri fals tiraunt.
Wrong clymbyng up dob a foul eende make:
For a sesoun thouh tirauntis be puissant,
Fortune to them yeueth no lenger graunt;
But whan thei sitte on hir wheel most roiall,
Bi vnwar chaung to haue a sodeyn fall.
_ Agothodes was firste a symple man, |
Brouht forth in myscheeff and in pouerte,
Sone of a pottere, his stori telle can,
Bi vicious lyuyng cam to gret dignite,
Of alle folk hatid for his cruelte,
Clamb fro pouert up to gret richesse,
Maad poore ageyn, deied in wrechidnesse.
[Lenvoye |
HIS tragedie sheweth a figure
Bothe bi stori & bi auctorite,
How man and beeste & euery creature
Tarageth the stok of his natyuite:
Herbe of the roote, & ech frut of his tree,
For bothe of vertu & also of outrage
Folweth sum tech or tast of the lynage.
Agathodes, bi record of scripture,
Born of louh bed, brouht foorth in pouerte,
Yit Fortune made hym to recure
Vp to hih estat from ful louh degre.
His resoun blent with sensualite,
Forgat hymselff, to speke in pleyn langage,
Thoruh a fals tech that cam from his lynage.
Ther is a difference of colours in peynture, *
On table or wal, as men alday may see;
Tween gold & gold, atween bis & asure:
Al is nat gold that shyneth briht, parde;
Sum noble is fals that hath ful gret beute, —
Lat men bewar of countirfet coignage,
Techchis eschewyng of cherlissh low lynage.
2913. Agathocles P. 2918. most] om. H, R 3, P.
2922. his} the R. 2930. his] om. H.
2941. peynture] picture B, J, R, P.
2943. atween ] tween R. °
The son of a
potter, he rose
to great wealth
and dignity
through vicious
living, and died
in wretched-
ness.
2924
2920
This tragedy
* shews how
every creature
2928 takes after his
Parent’s stock
for better or
for worse.
2932
Agathocles,
ra of low
2936 and torgot
hi
in consequence
of his base
lineage.
2940
There is a
difference
between gold
and gold and
smalt and
azure. All is
29044 not gold that
glitters,
554 The Cruelty of Cassander and bis Son Antipater_ (BK. 1v
pn adn Sum man forthred of sodeyn auenture, 2948
eagles. Set in a chaier of roial dignite,
Wenyng his empire euer sholde endure,
Neuer to be troubled with non aduersite:
With roial egles a kite may nat flee, 2952
A iay may chatre in a goldene cage,
Yit euer sum tech mut folwe of his lynage.
Gentle blood is Gentil blood of his roial nature
boore are, Is euer enclyned to merci & pite, 2956
following the. Wher of custum thes vileyns do ther cure,
nature of their ‘ A
churlish birth. Bi ther vsurpid & extort fals pouste
To be vengable bi mortal cruelte,
Thoruh hasti fumys of furious corage, 2960
Folwyng the techchis of ther vileyn lynage.*
O auighty O myhti Princis, your noblesse doth assure,
Princes, let . Re “ae
Agathocles be Your passiouns resteth with tranquillite,
mirror; avoid Seeth how ther is no mene nor mesure, 2964
his example, as ‘
_ your royal biood Wher a tiraunt cachcheth the souereynte!
reauures "7°" Let Agathodes your worldli merour bee,
Teschewe the tracis of his froward passage,
As roiall blood requereth of your lynage. 2968
[How Cassander slouh the wif of Alisaundre &
hercules hir sone/ and Antipater slouh his moder
& of other moordres. |!
pr ig Cr ola HE grete myschevys* of Fortunys miht,[p. 244]
twelve men The woful fallis from hir wheel in deede
appenred before Of princis, princessis, who-so looke ariht,
first | Been lamentable & doolful for to reede. 2972
But for al that, Bochas doth proceede
In his rehersaile, remembryng thus hym-selue,
To hym appeered of men & women twelue.
was Bersane, Aftir the deth of kyng Agathodes, 2976
Alexander the “Ther cam toforn hym worthi queenis tweyne:
The firste of them was callid Bersanes,
And of hir myscheef gan to hym compleyne,
Wiff to Alisauzdre, the stori list nat feyne, 2980
2950. his] hir H. 2954. tech] om. H. 2960. forious R.
2961. lynage] langage B.
2963. resteth] wrestith H, R 3 H aes P.
2969. myschevys] myscheeff B, J, R, P — miht] aventure R.
2974. thus remembryng H.
1 MS. J. leaf 99 verso.
BK.1v] The Cruelty of Cassander and bis Son Antipater
The myhti kyng, grettest vnder sunne,
Which bi conquest al this world hath wonne.
Wiff unto hym* was this Bersanes, *
Bi his lyue, as maad is mencioun,
Which with hir sone, named Hercules,
Wer bi Cassander brouht to destruccioun.
And of ther* deth this was thoccasioun,
Cassander dradde that Bersanes the queen
Wolde with hir sone on hym auengid been
For his tresouns, which he toforn hath wrouht
On Alisaundre & on his lynage;
And specialli, yiff that she were* brouht
To Macedoine for hir auauntage,
With hir sone, that was but yong of age,
Cassander thouhte & dradde, as I haue told,
Thei wolde auenge his tresouns wrouhte of old.
‘He caste afforn* of malis causeles,
This Cassander, most fals in his werkyng,
That yif this kniht, this yonge Hercules,
Sone of Alisaundre, bi record of writyng,
_ In Macedoyne wer take & crownid kyng,
How that he wolde of equite & riht
His fadris deth auengen lik a kniht.
Which thyng teschewe Cassander gan prouide,
And bi fals fraude was nat rek{eJles;
But on a day (he list nat longe abide)
Slouh first the queen, this said[e] Bersanes,
And thanne hir sone Icallid Hercules.
Thus bi Cassander, of moordre cropp & roote,
Thei moordred wern; ther was non othir boote.
This cruelte myht[e] nat suffise
Vnto Cassander, be record of scripture;
But lik a tiraunt in vengable wise
He dede hem burie, bi froward auenture,
Wher no man sholde knowe ther sepulture.
And thus, alas, which pite is to reede,
He moordred foure out of oon kynreede.
555
She and her
son ae
were slain by
2984 Cassander, who
feared their
vengeance
2988
for his treason
to Alexander,
2992
Cassander did
not want
Hercules to
me king
of Macedon,
3000
~
so he first
3°04 murdered
Bersane and
en her son,
and, like a
tyrant,
3012 ordained that
ang d should
uried in
unknown
gtaves.
3016
2981. sunne] be sonne H.
2983. unto hym] to Alsaandie B, R, J, P— oa, Bersabes
2987. ther] hir B, » RAP. 2992. were] w
. afforn] of a
. cruelte] om. H- — nat] nat enuh
2998. fals in ‘ha fale B, J.
556 The Cruelty of Cassander and his Son Antipater [BK. IV
Ac oadee To Alisaundre he mynistrid the poisoun,
polson and slew Slouh the queen callid Olympiades,
ympias, ;
Bersane and And of hatreede bi ful fals tresoun, 3020
ercules.
As I haue tolde, he slouh queen Bersanes,
Wif to Alisaundre, mooder to Hercules,
Which in youthe, bi Bochas rehersyng,
In Macedoyne was lik to haue been kyng. 3024
fied" Oueen Afftir al this he koude nat lyue in pes,
Roxana, another But euer redi sum tresoun for to do,
wife of ‘
Alexander, and Slouh eek the queen[e] callid Roxanes
her two young
sons. Vpon a day, & hire yonge sone[s] too. 3028
And she was wiff to Alisaundre also,
Cassander dreedyng, in his oppenyoun,
List thei wolde venge [hem] upon his fals tresoun.
His wife Thus euer he lyued in moordre, sorwe & striff; 3032
was called
Thessslonca, Bi weie of fraude cam al his encres,
son, Antipater, And, as I fynde, how he hadde a wif,
And she was callid Thesalonices.
And as this stori remembreth dout{[e]les, 3036
A sone thei hadde born atween hem tweyne,
To slen his mooder which aftir dede his peyne.
who compassed Shortly [to] passe, myn auctour writ non othir,
because she |, Antipater was hir sones name; 3040
better than she And because that she loued his brother
loved him.
Bettir than hym, he, to his gret diffame,
Compassed hir deth, the stori seith the same,
Natwithstondyng tappese his cruelte 3044
She axed merci knelyng on hir kne.
Prats cueoraeree Hir brestes open, white & softe as silk,
face bedewed = Al bedewed with teres hir visage,
begged in vain Requered meekli at reuerence of the milk 3048
for mercy. é ‘ ji
With which he was fostred in yong[e] age,
For taue merci & tappese his rage,
And taccepte goodli hir praieere,
To saue the lyff of his mooder deere. 3052
He was as
revengeful and But al for nouht; he herde hir neueradeel: [p. 245]
cruel as his ~~ He was to hire, surmountyng al mesure,
father. No
good branch = Lik his fadir vengable & cruel.
springs from
cruel blood. I trowe it was youe hym of nature; 3056
3025. nat}naH. 3027. Roanes H, R 3.
3036. as} om. J —this]the R,H 5. 3046. sofft & white H.
3047. hirj off hir R. 3048. at] at the R.
BK. 1v] The Fate of Antipater and bis Brother Alexander
For bi record of kynde & eek scripture,
Seeld or neuer no braunche that is good
Spryngeth of custum out of cruel blood.
Of hir deth[{e] cause ther was non other,
That Antipater slouh his mooder deere,
But for she loued Alisaundre his* brother
Bettir than hym, the cronicle doth us lere.
Which Alisaundre, yif ye list to heere,
Hadde in his socour, I fynde be writyng,
Demetrius, that was of Asie kyng.
Thesalonices was in this while ded
Bi Antipater, [s]he most infortunat,
Bathed in hir blood, hir sides wer maad red,
Withoute compassioun of hir hih estat.
And hir too sonis lyuyng at debat,
Til Lysymachus, that prefect was of Trace,
Them reconsiled ech to othirs grace.
Whan Demetrius knew of ther accord, —
God wot the sothe, he nothyng was fayn;
But bi his fraude, the stori berth record,
That Alisaundre maliciousli was slayn,
This while Antipater stondyng in noun certeyn,
Til he be sleihte of Lysymacus
Was moordred aftir, the stor tellith thus.
To write the processe and the maner howh
That Lysimachus bi fraudulent werkyng
His sone in lawe Antipater thus slouh, —
Fals couetise was cause of al this thyng;
And Demetrius took on hym to be kyng
Of Macedoyne, remembnd tyme & date,
Whan bothe brethre wer passed into fate.
Duryng this moordre & al this mortal striff,
In this processe lik as it is founde,
Of Antipater Erudice the wiff,
Douhtir of Seleuchus, was in cheynys bounde,
Cast in prisoun dirk, hidous & profounde;
And for a while I leue hir ther soiourne,
And to Demetrius | will ageyz retourne.
3058. SeeldenR. 3062. his] hir B.
3078. This] That R — no certeyn R 3,
3086. Macedonye R. 3087. into] onto R.
557
Alexander,
ntipater’s
3060 Anti 9
brother, was
rescued by
Demetrius, an
Asian king;
and after
Lysimachus,
3064
refect of
cnc yaad
econci the
3068 eo brothers,
3072
Demetrius by
hie fraud caused
Alexander to be
ara ang
afterwards
3076 Antipater was
murdered by
Lysimachus.
3080
Demetrius then
became king of
Macedonia.
3084
During this
3088 time urydice,
Antipater’s
wife, was in
rison, where
"ll let her
remain, and
return to
3°92 Demetrius,
008 she] he J, R, H.
558 Iwo Prefects, Peucestas and Amyntas [BK. Iv
Which made hymsilf[e] to be crownid kyng
Of Macedoyne, thoruh his gret puissaunce. 3096
But to destroie his purpos in werkyng,
Ther wer thre princis notable in substaunce,
Confederat & of oon alliaunce,
Echon assentid, for short conclusioun, 3100
To brynge Demetrius to destruccioun.
paint whom ~QOon the firste was worthi Tholome,
Peucuss sana MYNg of Egipt, in armis ful famous.
Bing Eyirhus Othir tweyne, the stori ye may see, 3104
formed a league. Callid Seleuchus, & next Lysymachus,
And of Cipre kam the kyng Pirthus,
Lord of [the] prouynce; & as it is eek founde,
Thei made hem strong Demetry to confounde.: 3108
itey deprived Shortli to telle, with ther apparailles,
kingdom and ~QOf Macedoyne thei dede hym first depniue;
ison, and, »o Cam upon hym with foure strong batailles,
he never That he was neuer so ouer-set his lyue: 3112
appeared again. Tobe of Lisymachus, the stori doth descryue,
Cheyned in prisouz, of his liff in doute,
For I nat fynde that euer he issed oute.
[Off the too prefectys/ Penestes and Amantas. | !
Babylon and EXT in ordre Penestes dede appeere, 3116
Sa Whilom prefect of grete Babiloun; >
And with hym cam Amyntas* eek ifeere,
Another prefect, as maad is mencioun,
Which Bactrie* hadde in his possessioun,* 3120
A gret prouynce youe hym bi 1ugement,
Mid of Asia toward the occident.
were assigned for Theg said{e] tweyne, for ther worthynesse
their worthiness
to watch over And for ther manhod tn actis marcial, 3124
the safety of
Alexander the Assigned wern bi dilligent bisynesse
Great. ° ° :
To waite and keepe in especiall
3101. Te
3106. pre rus P — the] om. H — Pirrhus P.
: iP, 3108. Demetrius P.
3116. Paes e
3118. Amyntas] Amantas B, R, J.
3120. Bactrie ts spelled Battrie in B, R, H, J, the ¢ formed like t.
_— tse noe (aC eg ia B, R, J— Bactrie] the Bactrians P.
3123. ther] the
1 MS. J. leaf 100 recto.
BK. IV] Sandrocottus, another Tyrant of low Birth 559
Vpon the mageste in his estat roiall
Of Alisaundre, for trust as chaumbirleyns, 3128
Ageyn thassaut & dreed of al foreyns.
Afftir whos deth, for synguler guerdoun per ihe doth:
Made prefectis bothe thei wer in deede, arg peter a
As ye han herd; the ton in Babilon, 3132 Seleucus and
‘ . ost their
The tother of Bactrie, the stori ye may reede. provinces.
Yit in quiete thei myhte hem nat posseede,
For Seleuchus gan a werre ageyn [hem] make,
That thei wer fayn ther lordshipis to forsake. 3136
[How Sandrodoctus born of lowe degre cherisshed
robbours & theuys. | !
6 prefectis ther wern also I fynde, [p. 246] To "o..,
Which heeld the peeple in ful gret seruage, nue conte
In Macedoyne & in outher Ynde, Sandrocottus,
Til Sandrodoctus, a man of louh lynage, 3140 birth, who
Caste he wolde redressen ther outrage,
Of entent poore peeple to restore
To ther fraunchises, that pleyned on hem sore.*
Sandrodoctus, auctour of this werkyng, 3144 ‘ing by sralt,
Behihte the peeple thoruhout al contres, estore ee.
Whan he be sleihte was c[o]rownid kyng, But he did
Them to restore to ther libertes. word.
But whan he hadde resceyued thes dignites, 3148
Al his behestis, maad with a fair visage,
Turned, as thei fond, to thraldam & seruage.
Thus whan a wrech is set in hih estat, peed can fall
Or a begger brouht up to dignite, 3152 pice eats
Ther is non so proud[e], pompous nor elat, high estate.
Non so vengable nor ful of cruelte,
Void of discrecioun, mercy & pite;
For cherlissh blood seelde doth recure 3156
To be gentil be weie of his nature.
3133. of] in P. ;
3135. ajom.H,R3,P,H5. 3136. lordshipp H.
3137. wer ther also R.
3140. Sandrocottus P. 143. on he so sore B.
3145. thoruhout] thoruh R — al] pe H, of al P.
3146. corownid] crownid MSS. except H 5 corownyd.
3152. up] om. H, R3. 3156. shurlych H 5.
1 MS. J. leaf 100 verso.
560
For a time a
churl may feign
The Career of Sandrocottus [BK. IV
He may dissymule & for a tyme feyne,
eatility, but Countirfete with a fair visage,
under flowers he Out of oon hood[e] shewe facis tweyne, 3160
the end Contrari of herte, double of his langage,
Stille of his port, smothe of his passage,
Vnder flourfe]s lik a serpent dare,
Til he may stynge; & than he wil nat spare. 3164
Sandrocottus = And euer lik of his condiciouns
neighbours and Was Sandrodoctus, set up in hth estat;
manner of Vexed peeples, troubled regeouns,
Set cites & touns at gret debat: 3168
¢ Whos gouernaunce was infortunat,
As it was seyn & founde at allle] preues,
Cherisshed no man but robbours & fals theuys.
He came to, And to declare how he cauhte hardynesse 3172
a marvel. And occasioun peeplis to gouerne,
- Bia pronostik, which I shal expresse,
Riht merueilous & vnkouth to discerne,
Which was this, as I shal telle as yerne, 3176
Riht wonderful & vnkouth for to heere;
And it was this, yif ye list to lere:
f Poorman of Ther was a man callid Procatales,
“Pracatales’ =~ Born in Ynde, which of his lyuyng 3180
against King ~=Was wonder poore, cam but seelde in pres,
sought to’ Because he hadde trespacid in o thyng
path” ‘° Ageyn Venandrus, that was that tyme kyng,
Comaundyng to sleen* hym anon mht; 3184
But he escaped, the stori seith be fliht.
per pines God hadde youe hym of [his] feet suyftnesse,
him to escape, Bi mene wherof he saued hym fro daungeer,
leptin his = Thoruh long trauaile fill in werynesse, 3188
beside a wel, And [to] refresshe hym, beside a welle cleer
and licked the He lay slepyng, that face & al his cheer
pete” Dropped of soot; a leoun cam forbi,
Likked his face, as seith the stori. 3192
When he. _ With which affray the man anon awook,
fon wentic® And sodenli left up his visage;
HN Malone The leoum ros, sofftli his weie took
harm. Toward the forest, dede hym no damage, 3196
3165. euer) even H. 3170. at] in ne 3171. fals] om. R.
3179. Pracatales P. 3180. of] in
3184. sleen] fleen B, R, flen J.
3186. his]om.R. 3189. tolom.R.
hee fliht] sleiht R.
3193. awook ] he woke R.
BK. Iv | ‘ The Career of Sandrocottus
Forgat his felnesse and his cruel rage.
Of which pronostik gan thoccasioun
Wherof Sandrodoctus took an oppynyoun,
Caste and thouhte in his fantasie,
Sithe that the leoum is beeste most roiall,
Which nat disdeyned hymsilff[e] to applie
To likke the face of a man rurall,
In his nature to shewe hym bestiall,—
He dempte as weel that it was sittyng
To take on hym thestat to be a kyng.
His oppynyoun of resoun was riht nouht;
For wher the leouz lefft his cruelte,
He in contrary wex proud in hert & thouht,
Void of merci, bareyn of pite.
For whan that he was set in dignite,
Brouht from a wrech to domynacioun,
Ageyn nature he pleyed the leoun.
Sumwhile* a leoun forgeteth his* felnesse,
Wher-as the wolff wil natureli deuoure;
So roial blood hath routhe, of gentilesse,
On poore pleyntiffs to helpe hem & socoure,
Wher-as a tiraunt of nature doth laboure,
Whan he hath poweer, cachchyng auauntage
To robbe [his] subiectis & spoille hem be pillage.
Sandrocottus
[p. 247] Beenie strong
Sandrodoctus, thus born of low kynreede,
In hih estat bi Fortune whan he stood,
Gan make hym strong & vengable in deede:
With noumbre of robbours, furious and wood,
Cast hym destroie al the gentil blood
That was in Ynde, & bi his ordynaunce
Slen al ther prefectis that hadde gouernaunce.
561
Sandrocottus
3200 heard this story
and thought
that since a
royal lion could
lick the face of
a rustic,
3204
there was no
an why he,
another poor
3208 man, should not
become king.
Only instead of
being merciful
and gentle, he
was proud and
3ar2 cruel:
Sometimes a
lion forgets to
be fierce, but
wolves and
tyrants are
3216 alvavs
ravenous.
3220
with the help
of robbers and
the common
people,
3224
and, riding on
And with the comouns whan he was maad strong, 3228 2"°:,j ceshant,
And gan the maner of ther deth deuise,
Lik a fals tiraunt, al-thouh he dede wrong
Ageyn his lordis whan he gan arise,
An olifaunt cam in ful unkouth wise,
Hym obeiede, which was a gret[e] wonder,
Whan ther batailes wer nat ferre assonder.
3198. begane H. 3205. as}om. J.
3210. & bareyn H, R 3.
3216. of Jon R,
3231. gan] did
H, P, & R 3.
- 3232. unkouth] humble H.
3214. offen Re] Hy Pre B, R — his] al B, J, P, as R.
3223. vengeably H.
that, strange
to say,
obeyed him like
a tame beast,
3232
562 The Story of Seleucus [ BK. IV
octets cq Thouh he was wilde, the stori seith the same,
gentle blood ~~ Sandrodoctus leep upon his side,
And on his bak, as on a beeste tame,
Toward the bataile anon he gan to ride,
Was ther capteyn that day & ther guide,
With his robbours, as it is maad[e] mynde,
Slouh al the prefectis & gentil blood of Ynde.
3236
3240
[How Seleuchus the mighty prince was slayn bi
the grete Tholome kyng of Egipt. | !
pale HAN cam Seleuchus to Bochas compleinyng,
ee A mihti prince & a ful manli kniht,
mai Sone of Antiochus, the grete famous kyng. 3244
Bochas. He Which* Seleucus, for wisdam & for myht,
masa favourite € Was most fauoured in Alisaundris siht,
Bet cttice, Born of a princesse, the cronicle ye may seen,
Cald Laoudice the grete famous queen. 3248
Me aerate Lhe berthe of hym straunge & merueillous:
ie NOE his mooder upon the same ntht
a ring That she conceyued drempte & thouhte thus,
As it semed pleynli in hir siht, 3252
Of gret Appollo, the heuenli god most briht,
How she the tyme of hir conceyuyng
Resceyued that niht of gold a riche ryng.
in waich is stoneLn which[e] ryng was set a precious stoon, 3256
palit og Youe vnto hir for a gret guerdoun,
ponent pi Graue with an ankir, hir comaundyng anon,
to give the Afftir the berthe withoute dilaciouz,
myc? ® = To yiue the ryng, of hool affeccioun, 3260
To Seleuchus, wherbi in especiall
He sholde excelle in actis marciall.
and ext ter Lhe same morwe aftir the child was born,
a Withynze hir bed was founde a riche ryng, 3264
the ring was With al the toknys rehersed heer-toforn,
oun in ner ° ° e
bed, and she he anker graue, lik in eueri thyng.
Pie keegan.” Which that the queen[e] took in hir keepyng,
And of entent[e] for his* auauntage, 3268
Kept it secre til he cam to age.
3236. upon cn H.
3238. ree e gan] he proudly gan H, R 3, H 5.
3245, 46 are transposed in B and
3245. ‘whieh With B B, J, For R
3263. the] tide H. 3268. ey hir B, H, J,R3,H 5, her P.
3269. to] till H.
1 MS. J. leaf 100 recto.
BK. Iv | The Story of Seleucus
Anothir merueile befill also withall:
563
Another marvel
was that an
This [childe] Seleuchus (which was a wonder thyng) s¢ pie ands
Hadde enpreentid eek in especiall
Vpon his thih an anker & a ryng;
So hadde all, bi record of writyng,
Such carectis, the stori doth termyne,*
That aftir hym wer bor[e]n of that lyne.
Whan Seleuchus, as maad is mencioun,
The tendre yeeres hadde of his age ronne,
And cam to yeeris of discrecioun,
He bi this ryng ful many lond hath wonne.
Whos knihtli fame shon sheene as [a] sonne,
He weel auised, hardi [&] of gret myht,
Tyme of Alisandre holde oon the beste kniht.
In werre and armes he his tyme hath spent;
Brouht al Ynde [on]to subieccioun,
Gat al the kyngdames nih of the orient,
Heeld hem longe in his pocessioun.
But heer, alas, Bochas makth mencioun,
Al his victories, that dede in honour shyne,
With sodeyn chaung wer turned to ruyne.
For whan Seleuchus was most victorious,
Hadde al Inde conquered in substaunce,
Atween hym & kyng Lysymachus,
Of whom toforn is maad[e] remembraunce,
Began a werre & a gret distaunce.
And as thei mette with ther apparailles,
In a gret feeld ordeyned ther batailles,
On Lisymachus fill the disconfiture.
Wheroff Seleuchus, glad in especiall,
Dempte his wynnyng cam nat of nature,
But bynfluence verray celestiall,—
Gan wexe proud in his estat roiall,
Nat supposyng in his victorious stall,
Of his myscheeuys that sholde aftir fall.
3271. childe] om. R, P.
3275. termyne] determyne B, P.
3278. age ronne] yers is
3281. a ye . ii
3282. & 1 Pe R < 285. unto] to R, P.
3289. that] F 3290. opts, R.
3300. nature LE , auenture P, H 5s, auentur R 3.
3 2 7 2 imprinted oa
thigh.
3276
3280
3 284 4 and conducted
of the Orient.
3288
But a sudden
change turned
all to ruin,
3292 when he went
to war against
Lysimachus.
3296
Phowgnt in his
oo pride that no
33 one could
defeat him,
3304
564 The Treachery of Ceraunus to Arsinoe [BK. Iv
and yet he was For as the processe declareth onto vs, [p. 248]
soon afterwards q
sed How of Egipt the grete Tholome,
Lysimachug Brother-in-lawe to Lysymachus,
Fill on Seleuchus bi ful gret cruelte, 3308
Slouh hym at myscheeff, the stori ye may see.
Loste his liff, as maad is mencioun,
In Macedoyne, the myhti regioun.
ee And it is knowe of antiquite 3312
heirs of Bi rehersaile of these olde auctours,
Alexander and
the founder of That this forseid gret[e] Tholome
dynasty. Was Talisaundre oon of thenheritours,
Kyng of Egipt, ther regnyng in his flours. 3316
Afftir whos name, descendyng doun be grees,
Wer alle the kynges callid Tholomes.
thideen, As I fynde, touchyng his lynage,
Ceraunus, Bi procreacioun he hadde childre thre: 3320
Philadelphus ‘
and Arsince. The firste of hem, to speke in pleyn langage,
Inamed was Ceramyus Tholome,
Next Philadelphus, a douhtir Arcynoe,
That weddid was birfadres consentyng 3324
To Lisymachus of Macedoyne kyng.
[How the too sonys of queen Arcynoe were bi ther
moders brother traitoursly slayn and she exiled. | !
Peluso ND thus remembred in bookes [that been] olde,
Bochas, het Deth of Seleuchus wrouht bi Tholome,
ace wet with :
tears, com- § Vnwarli slayn, toforn as I haue told, 3328
plaining her °
sorrows. Next in ordre cam Arsynoe
To Iohn Bochas bi gret aduersite,
Al with teres bedewed hir visage,
And gan compleyne the constreynt of hir rage. 3332
ava tysimachus! his mihti queen, this said Arsynoe,
and Philip, | Hadde sonis tweyne ful famous of renoun:
The ton Lysymachus, excellyng of beute,
The tothir Phelipp, as maad is mencioun. 3336
And al hir ioie and delectacioun,
Hir worldli blisse — ther is no mor to seyne —
Was hooli set upon thes childre tweyne.
3320. children R. 3322. Cytomyus H.
3226. thus]om.H, R 3 —in] bi Re-that been]om.R, J, P, Hs.
MS. J. leaf 101 recto.
BK. Iv |
For bi thoccasiouz of ther gret fairnesse,
Men delited gretli them to see,
Namli women, the stor doth expresse;
And ther mooder, this queen Arsynoe,
Stood in gret hope that thei sholde bee
Mihti kyngis bi iust successioun,
In Macedoyne the myhti regioun,
Onli be title of ther fadres nht. .
Which to hir herte gaf ful gret gladnesse,
For she dempte that non other wiht
To succeede sholde ha[ue] non interesse;
But Fortune, the blynde fals goddesse,
Disposed so for thes* childre tweyne,
That non of them ther purpos sholde atteyne.
For whan ther fader Lisymachus was slayn,
The saide queen callid Arsynoe,
To saue hir lyff koude non othir gayn,
But with hir sonis feerfulli to flee
Into Cassandre, a myhti strong cite,
Onli for dreed of oon Antigonus
Which them pursued, the stori tellith us.*
But the brother of queen Arsynoe,
Callid Ceramius rescued hir partie
Geyn Antigonus, ye may the stori see;
Yit in his herte he hadde gret envie,
Al-be that thei wer nih of his allie,
That hire too sonis sholde kyngis bee
Of Macedoyne, & regne in that contre.
For he was set onli of couetise
To be crowned in Macedoyne kyng;
And of fals* tresou, the stori doth deuise,
Them to deceyue, this was his werkyng:
First to the queen ful humbeli knelyng
He made promys vnder gret surete,
In Macedoyne she sholde crownid be.
And hir childre, so fair of ther visage,
Sholde be keped* vndir gouernaunce
Vnto tyme that thei kam to age. .
. the] bat H. 3350. enteresse R.
. thes] ther B, R. 3 57. ferfull H.
3360. us] thus B, R, J, R 3.
. be story ye may H.
. she] he R. 3376. keped] kept B.
The Treachery of Ceraunus to Arsinoe
565
whom she
3349 hoped would
succeed to the
throne of
Macedonia,
3344
taking great
pleasure in
3 348 the thought.
3352
But when their
father was
killed, Arsinoe
6 fled with ee
two sons from
335 one Antigonus,
who pursued
them to
Cassandreia,
3360
where they
were rescued by
Ceraunus,
3364
who resolved
3368 to be king of
Macedon him-
self, and slyly
promised
Arsinoe that
she should be
crowned queen,
3372
advising her
tO eee her
children in
3376 tutelage until
they became of
age.
3351. the] pat H.
3358. Cassandria P.
3362. Ceraunus P — hir] his H.
3370. fals] his fals B, R, J.
566 The Treachery of Ceraunus to Arsinoe [BK. IV
And for to put hir in mor assuraunce,
Ceramyus swoor (God yiue hym sori chaunce!)
He purposed, for al his fals werkyngis, 3380
To crowne hir queen & make hir sones kynges.
Hf treveue* Took alle the goddis ther onto witnesse
iat bee And swoor ageyn[e], with a pleyn visage,
make her his Onto the quen, of fraude & doubilnesse, 3384
a His purpos was to haue hir in mariage,
Crowne hir queen to hir gret auauntage.
Thus was he* sworn, althouh he was hir brother;
Yit in herte God wot he thouhte another. 3388
sre iliswea*"Wnder colour of this assuraunce [p. 249]
him to enter She leet hym entre Cassandre the cite,
met him with Cam ageyn hym to doon hym mor plesaunce
Breas orem?” With al hir lordis of hih & louh degre, 3392
Made the streetis hangid for to bee
With clothes of gold, & in solempne wise
To alle ther godis dede sacrefise.
Her two sont And thus he was resceyued solempneli; 3396
crowns and = ‘The day was halwed & holde festyual:
her down the The queen for ioie ordeyned richeli
to receive their Hir too sonis, that were so faire in al,
macs: To be crownid with crownes ful’roiall, 3400
Goon afforn hire in the maister streete
Gloriousli ther vnkle for to meete.
ant idaily face With felenous herte vnder a freendli face
cana aa This Ceramyus, roote of al tresoun, 3404
purposing their Gan his cosyns benigneli enbrace,
estruction. ° e
Hym purposyng bi fals collusioun
To proceede to ther destruccioun.
And fynali, firste he dide his peyne 3408
The queen texile and slen hir childre tweyne.
He ordered the ;
quees to be But or this tresoun was brouht to a preeff,
exiled, meaning Whan the queen apparceyued his falsnesse
to murder her : .
sons; _but she And sauh hir sonis.brouht to such myscheeff, — 3412
intended and She coniured hym in hir mortal distresse
to Be him To haue pite of natural gentilesse,
oo Spare his cosyns, afforn hym wher thei stood,
Of roial merci, so nih born of his blood. 3416
3387. was he] he was B, R, J, R 3, H 5, P.
3396. solemply R. 3411. apparceyued] parceyued H.
BK. Iv ] The Treachery of Ceraunus to Arsinoe 567
And with a cri passyng lamentable ee
She fill afforn hym swownyng onto grounde, swoon. belore
Lik as she hadde be verraili coupable,
Seyng hir sonis bleedyng with many wounde. — 3420
But al for nouht; ther was no merci founde.
For with* ther blood (this stori is nat feyned)
Hir garnement was doolfulli disteyned.
Hir faire face was soiled with ordure, sag eet
Hir goldene her was al to-torn & rent, biped ot hee
And lik a thrall this woful creature her garments,
With mortal weepyng hadde hir sihte blent. wa oe aed
And aftir that, I fynde how she was sent 3428 fe be te
To burie hir childre, for ther was no space,
Into an ile callid Sammotrace.
Is any stori, whiche maketh mencioun ene Buried ber
That a princesse of so hih degre 3432 Serta
Fond so gret cause of lamentacioun? story of &
She beyng douhtir to gret Tholome, — such high
Hir childre slayn be vengable cruelte, sty de aa
And to beholde the deth most dolerous 3436 Tmucht
Of hir husbonde callid Lysymachus.
She aftir banshed in exil made hir eende, pri pepea abs
Witb sorewful compleynt hir lyff thus drawe along, [ould he |
Til into fate hir sperit dede weende, 3440 rehearse all
It is no dreed hir peynes wer ful strong. een
And yif I sholde rehersen al the wrong
That she suffred, it sholde greeue sore,
Therfor of hir now I write no more. 3444
Lenvoye.
HIS tragedie sheweth an apparence rae eaneyy
And a liknesse of feithful assuravnce, gnc Canance
Texite men to yiue fals credence
Vnto Fortunys froward variaunce. 3448
Which cast hir baitis & anglis of plesaunce,
An hook hid vndir of vengable cruelte,
As this chapitle [hath] put in remembraunce
Of Lysymachus & of Arsynoe. 3452
3420. many a H. 22. with] which B. 3423. garment H.
3431. whiche] which at H, Re, 3437. calli} om. R.
3438. bansshed H, R.
3447. Texite] execute H. 3451. hath] om. R.
568 An Envoy on the Variance of Fortune [ BK. Iv
Th is no °
ereaer evidence Is ther any gretter euidence
of worldly = Of worldli trouble of worldli constaunce,
vicissitudes than asaee
to see princes Than seen princis from ther magnificence
suddenly : ‘< ° °
brought to ruin. And from ther myhti roial [hih] puissaunce 3456
Vnwarli brouht bi Fortune to myschaunce,
And ouerwhelmyd from ther tranquillite?
Seeb heer a merour ful notable in substaunce
Of Lisymachus & queen Arsynoe. 3460
inher ® “"* The ryng, the anker of gret excellence
iven to Youe to Seleuchus for marcial suffisaunce,
eleucus by te
Apollo were Whan Appollo be heuenli influence
assurance; and List with his mooder make his alliaunce, 3464
think o
Lysimachus and bent hym thes reliques of synguler aqueyntaunce,
alas To sette his manhod in mor surete;
But in al such quaueryng perseueraunce, *
Thynk on Lysymachus & on Arsynoe! 3468
Neither the = The vnkout(h] tresours, the gold nor the dis-
of ae subjects pence [p. 2 50]
regions of those Of hem that han this world in gouernaunce,
who govern
this world Nor al the subiectes, up rekned in sentence,
render them ° °
secure against. Nor al the regiouns vnder ther obeissaunce, 3472
eorune Princis, princessis, with al ther attendaunce,
May ageyn Fortune yiue hem no liberte;
Who nat knoweth hir vnseur geri chaunce,
Thynk on Lysymacus & on Arsynoe. 3476
Arsinoe and her Hir childre and she slayn bi violence
children were
dain by | 4aqd Of Ceramyus (God yiue hym sori chaunce!)
luck to him!) That bi fals colour dide hir reuerence
who spactendee ‘
friendship for And pretendid a maner obseruaunce, 3480
th °
= The tresoun cloos of venymous purueiaunce,
Purposed afforn toutraie hem all[e] thre:
The childre slayn, which knewe no cheuisaunce,
The mooder exiled, callid Arsynoe. 3484
Noble Princes,
do not become Noble Princis, beeth war of hih prudence,
estranged from Among your-silf that ther be no distaunce,
one another or
hide your Hideth no rancour of hatful violence
rancour under a . °
curtain of Wndir a courtyn of double daliaunce; 3488
uplicity.
Remember this Lik your herte shewe out your contenaunce,
chapter o
Lysmachus Wold of dissymulyng &* duplicite,
and Arsinoe.
3456. hih] om. R. 3460. queen] of R. 3464. make is]
maken H. 3467. perseueraunce}] aqueyntaunce B,
3468. 2nd ont off R,om. J. 3.472. ther]om.R.
3476. 2ndon om. J, P. 3490. &]& of
BK. Iv |
Wisly weieth this chapitle in balaunce,
Off Lisymachus and queen Arsynoe.
gq Explicit.
How Ceraunus was slain by the Gauls
569
3492
[How Ceramius of Macedony kyng that moordred
his cosyns was slayn in bataile bi them [of]
Fraunce. | !
HE noble poete Iohn Bochas, in his book
Procedyng foorth, compleyneth of pite,
With quaky[n]g hand whaz he his penne took
And gan to write the woful destyne,
As ye han herd, of queen Arsynoe,
And how Ceramius, the stori maketh mynde,
Was to hir fals, traitour & vnkynde.
Of whos tresoun is maad a gret processe,
And how he aftir was slayz in bataille,
Punshed bi vengaunce for his gret falsnesse,
Lik as his stori maketh rehersaille.
Which to remembre I cast me nat to faille,
Folwyng myn auctour & proceede in writyng,
How Ceramyus was slayn whan he was kyng.
For whil that he bi his fals werkyng,
In Macedoyne hadde gouernaile,
Thre hundred thousand acountid be reknyng*
Wente out of Fraunce to conquere in Itaille;
The hoost, departed in many strong bataille,
Gat bi conquest thoruh ther hih renoun
Ful many prouynce & many regioun.
And as thei rood thoruh many gret contre, —
This peeple of Gaule in steel armyd cleen,* —
Thei foundid castellis & many strong cite:
Toward Rome the: bilt Milan & Sene,
Vpon T[h]alpies ther armour shon ful sheene;
And sum of them up to Rome wente
Be verray force, and the cite brente.
3509. reknyng] writyng B, R, J, P.
3510. in] om. R. 3514. contrees H.
3515. cleen] briht B, sheene R, J.
3516. Citees H.
1 MS. J. leaf 102 recto.
ae jens
story of Queen
Arsinoe.
Ceraunus was
359° strerwards
slain in battle
3504
by the Sauls,
after ney, ha
conquer
3508 Italy
3512
and built
Milan and
Sienna.
P oe eel
16 gleamed on
35 the Alps; and
some of them
burnt Rome,
and others
went up the
ZEgean Sea to
3520 Pavonia.
570 How Ceraunus was slain by the Gauls [ BK. Iv
Summe partid up to the Grekissh Se,
Hadde a custum to chese ther duellyng place
Bi augurie, as briddes dede flee;
Folwyng ther fliht[e], thei gan aftir trace, 3524
Holdyng ther way, witbynne a litil space,
With myhti hand, the book doth specefie,
Thei cam tacontre callid Pauonye.
They were * . This folk of Gaule, which is callid France, 3528
re ae
aie. ae To conquere londis put hemsilff in pres,
eal As most notable peeple of puissaunce,
Folwyng thexaumple of ther knihtli encres
In ther ridyng, of worthi Hercules, 3532
Which was worsheped in actis marcial
Lik as a god, and callid inmortal.
they conquered Thoruh grace of Fortune in ther cheualries
many countries.
When they = Conquered contres, alway foorth ridyng, 3536
Macedonia, “Themsilff departyng in dyuers cumpanyes, —
Who them withstood thei consumed be brennyng.
Cam to Macedoyne wher Cerawm was kyng;
Of presumpcioun weenyng it sholde auaile, 3540
Out of ordynaunce he mette hem in bataile.
fous tha This Ceramius of outrage & of pride
in his pride. ~Dempte hym able to meete witb hem of France;
ough they 5
oflered to treat But for he was thoruh moordre an homycide, 3544
with him for ‘
peace. He lakked grace & poweer in substaunce.
Yit thei off Gaule, bi prudent gouernaunce,
Offred onto hym, thouh he was rekf[el]les,
With Macedonoys for to trete of pes. 3548
Defeated for But of* presumpcioun & malencolie [p. 251]
resumption,
bis head was Ageyn his enmyes he the feeld hath take,
set on a stake. And disconfited anon was his partie:
His men gan fleen, & ha[ue] ther lord forsake; 3552
His hed smet off and set upon a stake.
But al his myscheeff was to lite in deede
To recompense his fraude & his falsheede.
pitishcat’ °° Ther is no peyne ageyn so gret offense 3556
adequate for Mfai be deuised in no book that men reede,
Equiualent moordre to recompence,
3521. to] thoruh H, R 3, thrugh H s.
3523, 24 are transposed 1n B; correction indicated by sertbe.
3534. Immortal H. 3538. thei] the R— be] with H, H 5.
3539. Ceraunus P. 3544. an] & R.
3549. of] for B,J, R. 3558. Equyualence R.
BK. Iv | The Defeat and Death of Belgius 571
Duli to punshe so outraious a deede,
Of hym that made yonge childre bleede, 3560
As dede Ceraum, which of fals couetise
His cosyns slouh, as ye han herd deuise.
To thynke on moordre, it is to foul a thyng, fou hing
To God and man hatful & terrible: 3564 hateful an
7 x terrible to God
The infernal fraude, the deuelissh compassyng and man.
To ech creature of nature is odible, Ceraunus,
Which to redresse is an impossible. no longer blot
O cursid Ceram, I leue thi stori heere, 3568 ™Y Paper!
Thi name no more shal blotte my papeere!
[How the prynce Belgius was disconfited and
brouht vnto nought. |!
FFTIR this tiraunt, as ye ha[ue] herd be cas, &&...
Slayn in bataile, this traitour odious, ele
Anon in ordre cam to Iohn Bochas 3572 appeared,
: ; : ° complaining
A myhti prince callid Belgius, with furious
Dedli pale, with face furious, ome
Which compleynyd, among this woful pres, ie
His disconfiture doon be duk* Sostenes. 3576 Sosthenes.
This sodeyn myscheef greued his herte sore; His eadden
For al the folk that wer in his bataille grieved hie
Wer put to fliht[e]. Bochas writ no more says no more
. ‘ 7 3 about him
Of his knihthod nor of his apparaille, 3580 than that
Sauf onli this; he maketh rehersaille, a chiclcaptain
Of the Frensshe host, he tellith in certeyn, . pli aaa
How he was chose for a cheeff capteyn, a aad spy ounce
° ‘ Sosthenes,
And how he cam into the riche lond 3584 save that he
‘ : was conquere
Of Macedoyne with his peeple of Fraunce, by Brennus.
Til Sostenes the duk, with myhti hond,
Discounfited hym, brouht hym to myschaunce.
Of whom I fynde non other remembraunce, 3588
Saue whan he wende ta be* most glorious,
He was outraied bi force of Brennyus.
3562. han] om. R. B Bes, oo, eae R.
3576. duk queen B Sosthenes P
3585. his] this H, R &
3589. ta be} taue be B, R 3, H 5, tauethe R, to haue ben P, taue
ben
3590. 3rennus P.
1 MS. J. leaf 102 verso.
572 The Fate of Brennus, who invaded Greece (BK. IV
[How Duk Brennyus delityng to robbe & spoile
ended. | !
Brennus, king
a hr omen HIS Brennyus, ful knihtli in werkyng,
eee Which bi conquest gat many gret cite,
peoples nor =~ And, as I reede, of Sens he was kyng,
8, robbing : ‘ ‘
all. Dispoilled regiouns & many gret contre,
Robbed peeples of hih & low degre,
Spared no goddis, but be violence
Took ther tresours; dede hem no reuerence.
The Greeks | Ther was a temple gret and merueilous
the temple of Bilt on a roche and on an hill off ston,
Delphi to Sacred Tappollo callid Delphicus, —
oracle, In al Grece so gret a god was non.
And offte sithe the peeple wolde gon
Vp to a theatre which that stood withoute,
To haue ansuere of that thei stood in doute.
where they bad Ther trust, ther hope was to that god applied,
ea by 2, Hauyng to hym synguler affeccioun,
deception. | As thouh he myhte haue holpe & magnefied
And doon to hem gret consolacioun;
For bi a sperit of fals decepcioun
He gaff answere of sondri questiouns
To folk that cam fro dyuers regiouns.
Brennus had = K yng Brennyus hadde no fantasie,
no ere he b : -
t
fous ip the _., In ther templis aftir ther paynym guise
e only wanted Nouther to worshepe nor to magnefie
to rob them o A .
their treasures. Ther Grekissh goddis, to doon hem sacrefise;
For in his herte he gan hem to despise,
Cauhte a ioie with al his fals robbours
Them to despoile & robbe of ther tresours.
fie etre’? © Behihte his men, & seid in pleyn langage,
pillage with bis That his desir and his entencioun
Was to be boti with them of such pillage
As goddis hadde in ther pocessioun,
And parte with hem for synguler guerdoun
3592. cite] cure R
3592
3596
3600
3604
3608
3612
3616
3620
3593. nares ea 'R, dens J — of Sens] since P — was] was
made H,
3594, 95 are transposed in H. 3595. peeple J, people P.
3596. be] om. R
3618. pret] the R.
3621. boti} bootyng R 3, botyng H 5, boting P.
1 MS. J. leaf 102 verso.
BK. IV] The Defeat of Brennus at Delphi 573
For ther labour & ther gret trauailles 3624
That thei had hadde with hym in his batailles.
He gaff his peeple a maner hardynesse, none mis bntt
Made hem truste in gret multitude, ae a a
Hauyng despiht of thynnocent symplesse 3628 Delphian
Of his enmyes, because thei wer but rude. they were rude
I meene tho folk, shortli to conclude, simple:
Which hadde in keepyng the ieweles precious
Of gret Appollo callid Delphicus. 3632
The peeple also which was with Brennyus _[p. 252] Brennu®’
Hadde al the day dronke myhti wynes — were drone
To fille ther paunchis thei wer so desirous, — climb the bill
: ° and assault the
That thei forgat ther marcial doctrynes. 3636 temple;
Tascende the mounteyn feeble wer ther chynes,
Ther hedis toltir & ther brayn gan faille,
The temple aloffte to spoille it or tassaille.
In ther ascendyng be weies that thei ches, 3640 2nd the priests,
Vpon the roche thei wer bete doun; Feria
Preestis of the temple put hemsilff in pres — bravely
Oon bar a standard, a-nother a gret penoun —
Clad in chesiples for hih deuocioun, 3644
And with ther other vnkouth apparailles,
Bothe on the roche & lowe in ther batailles.
The peeple of Brennyus* was incomparable, Jala daeteel Hebe
Spradde al the feeldis, the stori berth witnesse; 3648
But it is said of old & is no fable,
That no diffence is [in] dronk[e]nesse.
And wisdam failleth wher is gret excesse;
And in a feeld[{e], pleynli to conclude, 3652
Victor alway stant nat in multitude.
For thei wer set, Bochas doth deuise, poet fia
Nat to knihthod but to fals outrage, Koighily deeds
. : : ut on robbery.
Tosspoile and robbe be gredi couetise, 3656
And stuffe ther someres with outraious pillage;
Furious rauyne hath brouht hem in a rage, —
And farweel knihthod & marcial noblesse
Wher couetise is ladi & maistresse! 3660
3637. wer] was H.
3658. tolur J, R, toltyr H 5, toltir (the r misformed) H — brayns
braynes R 3 — ganto R.
3643. el ano i. 3647. Bremayus B.
3651. wher] ther H. s6c4 feeld] freende R.
3657. someres] om. R.
574 The Discomfiture and Death of Brennus _[[BK. Iv
Besides == Too myhti dukis wer with Brennyus,
Gauls had =) Which that wer[en] cheeff of his counsail.
two other
leaders, Dukes Manus* the ton, the tothir Thesalorus,
Euridanus and
Thessaloous. Which, as thei thouhte to ther gret auail, 3664
Began a purpos, and it was disauail,
To robbe the temple, the contre & ech tou,
Which turnid aftir to ther confusioun.
Avarice Thus auarice with stomak vnstaunchable 3668
strangles
the prowess of Hath stranglid the prowesse* of many worthi kniht;
many a worthy
knight and =©906 And couetise, hir sustir vntretable,
turns nobility
of heart into Hath of hih noblesse ful ofte queynt the liht.
cowaress: Wher Tantalus regneth, a leoun hath no myht: 3672
This to meene, hunger & couetise
Turnep al noblesse into cowardise.
For bi the counsail of these dukes tweyne,
Brennyus sette al his oppynyoun; 3676
To spoille & robbe dede his besi peyne,
To pile the cites of al that regeoun.
But in this while, as maad is mencioun,
Mid ther batailles, Bochas doth me lere, 3680
The god Appollo & Pallas dede appeere.
In the mid’ Appollo first shewed his presence,
Apollo appeared, Fressh, yong and lusti as any sonne sheene,
oung and
g and | :
ey aes. Armed al in gold, and with gret violence 3684
Diana, with Entred the feeld[e], as 1t was weel seene.
arrows, and ~=© And Diana kam with hir arwes keene,
Minerva in a
glittering And Mynerua in a briht haberioun,
abergcon. = Which in ther komyng made a terrible soun. — 3688
ans moi of ‘The noise was herd[e] of ther briht armure,
armour terrified Which made ther enmyes for feer almost to raue,
the Gauls, and
there wasa_ = [hat thei myht afforn hem nat endure,
hideous earth-
quake and hail Fledde the feeld for dreed, themsilf to saue. 3692
nee And ther was herd an hidous erthe-quaue;
And fro heuene in this mortal bataille,
Of cold constreynyng gret stonys gan douz haille.
Brennus, Ther aduersaries bete doun & groundid, 3696
mortally
wounded, drove And afforn hem durste nat abide.
agger into
his heart, And Brennyus so mortalli was woundid,
3663. Manus] eManus B, Emanvs R, Euridanus P — Thessa-
lonus P. 1 oop 6 lof H
3669. prowesse| poweer B, R. 3673. &] of H.
3688. Which The which R.
3694. from H. 3695. doun] to H.
BK. Iv |
An Envoy on Respect for the Gods
575
Bothe brest & hed, & hurt thoruh outher side, —
Loo, heer the eende of couetise & pride:
For Brennyus for constreynt of his smerte
Rooff with a dagger hymseluen to the herte.
This was his eende, vengable & merueilous;
And his dukis slay[e]n bothe tweyne,
Callid Emanus & Thesalorus,
The Grekissh goddis gan at hym so disdeyne.
Of sacrilege seeth heer the greuous peyne:
For who to goddis list do non obseruaunce,
Shal vnwarli be punshed with vengaunce.
It is nat holsum with goddis [for] to pleie,
Nor ther puissaunce presumptuousli tattame;
For wher-as thei be vengaunce list werreie,
Who list assay shal fynde it no game.
For his presumpcioun Brennyus fond the same;
For Appollo, Diane and Mynerue
For his outrage vnwarli made hym sterue.
Lenvoye.
HIS tragedie declareth, who list heere, [p. 253
Of duk Brenzyus many gret bataile,
His extort conquest, & hooli the maneere
How [he] bi force rood thoruh al Itaille.
Afftir how he the Romeyns dede assaille;
His fall in Grece bi vengable violence,
For he to goddis list do no reuerence.
Took al the tresours & ieweles most enteere
Out of ther templis, & richest apparaille,
Gold and perle, & al that stuff ifeere,
To his encres which that myhte auaille.
The riche he robbed, oppressid the poraille,
Of verrai pompe & froward insolence,
And list to goddis do no reuerence.
This myhti tiraunt most surquedous of cheere,
With couetise brent in his entraille,
Whos gredi fret ther myht no mesure steere,
Til that Fortune at myscheeff dede hym faille;
He lakked myht hir variaunt wheel to naille.
3703. his] the R.
3700
3704 s of th
goa would
allow no
sacrilege.
3708
It ie not
wise to trifle
with the gods.
3712
3716
Thie tra
tells of battles
fought by
Brennus, and
how he fell
in Greece
3720 because he
had no respect
for the gods.
He robbed
3724 the temples of
eir treasures,
and all men;
3728
and no measure
ape pple
is greed, un
3732 Fortune threw
him from her
wheel.
3705. Emanvs H, Euridanus P — Thesaleus H, Thessalonus P.
3710. forjom. R, J, P. 3720. he] om. J.
576 The Story of Pyrrbus, King of Epirus [ BK. IV
Ageyns whos fall ther was no resistence, 3736
For he [to] goddis list do no reuerence.
Noble Princes. Noble Princis, conceyueth & dooth lere
virtue 16
ze roages ghana The fall of Brennyus for mysgouernaille,
mail; and the And prudenthi peisyng this mateere, 3740
chief protection
of your Vertu is strenger than outher plate or maille.
ma, cence is
to.do-due Afforn considred what Salamon* doth counsaille,
Goi ‘° ~=—- Cheef preseruatiff of your magnificence,
Is first to God to do due reuerence. 3744
[How Pirrus kyng of pirothe listnat lyue in pees but
of pride and presumpcioun in werre, cam to
myschaunce. | !
pe errs IN Bochas book next folwyng on be ryng
verhus, rn Cam yongfe] Pirrus, sone of Eacides,
to reign in ~~ Born be discent to regnen & be kyng
: And tenherite the lond of Pirothes. 3748
Yit in his youthe & in his tendre encres,
The froward peeple duellyng in that place,
Withoute his gilt, gan his deth purchace.
To preserve But to preserue hym, as maad is mencioun, 3752
him from his
hostile subject) He was commyttid & taken in keepyng
he was sent : . °
to Glaucus, Certeyn yeeris for his sauacioun
king of Illyria, oe
whose, wife was To oon Glaucus of IIlirie kyng,
ies Whos wiff was cosyn, be record of writyng, 3756
To the seid[e] famous Eacides,
And she in stori callid Beronices.
born of his own He nih of blood[e] to this noble queen,
Bothe tweyne born of o lynage, 3760
Wonder gracious to alle that dede hym seen
And weel fauoured of fetures & visage.
And in the while of his tendre age,
Oon Cassander, off Macedoyne kyng, 3764
Compassid his deth bi sotil fals werkyng.
Yet while he And his purpos for to brynge aboute,
was still young,
casend He sente for hym bi fals collusioun,
plotted his
death and =6- Puttyng Glauchus pleynli out of doute, 3768
sent for him, P ‘ : ‘i
threatening But yiff he cam lich his entencioum,
Glaucus that i ;
unless Pyrrhue He wolde werke to his destruccioun,
fame he wou Gadre peeple bothe nih & ferre
war. And on Glauchus gynne a mortal werre. 3772
3737. tolom. R. 3742. ciara pega B,J, R
3757. the ts repeated in H. 3766. his] this H.
1MS. J. leaf 103 verso.
BK. Iv |
But king Glaucus took therof* non heede,
Hauyng to Pirrus so gret affeccioun:
Of hym resceyued verraili in deede
To been his sone bi adopcioun,
Purposyng of hool entencioun
To make Pirrus, pleynli yiff he may,
To been his hair & regne aftir his day.
Pirrus alway up growyng bi encres,
Ful amyable bothe of cheer & face;
And in this while the peeple of Pirothes,
Knowyng that he stood in Glaucus grace,
Chaunged ther hertis, cast hem in short space
For to restore, alle of o corage,
The said[e] Pirrus to his heritage.
Thus bi assent he was crowned kyng,
Yong, fressh & lusti, & semli therwithal,
Wonder weel thewed in his upgrowyng,
Lik his lynage of corage wex roiall.
The which was cause in especiall,
He was beloued of freendis al aboute,
And of his enmyes gretli had in doute.
The name of hym gan to spreede ferre
Thoruh al Grece aboute in ech contre.
The lond of Tarente gan in [t]his tyme a werre
Ageyn[es] the Romeyns, as ye may see,
Requeryng Pirrus that he wolde bee
Fauourable & helpyng of entente
To the parti of them of Tharente.
To ther request he gan condescende,
And of purpos cast hym nat to faile,
Yif that Fortune wolde hym grace sende,
With myhti hand & marcial apparaile
For to be lord & conquere al Itaille,
As dide his vncle whilom, dout[eJles,
Callid Alisaundre kyng of Epirothes.
. therof] heerof B, R, J, H
: seeae changyng H,
3792.
3795. € oh K
R3, Hs.
. this
Hs, P—al] 4, Redes :
. the
his
ri Ist of } met
The Story of Pyrrbus, King of Epirus
[p.
577
But Glaucus
paid no atten-
3784
his friends and
feared by his
96 enemies; his
name ¢ read far
3800
25 a) ae he Sadie
ag ecaaucit of
all Italy.
3804
578 The Story of Pyrrbus, King of Epirus [ BK. IV
First he had ~~ First he began his conquest in Itaille
«Raman consul Toward Heraclie, a myhti gret cite,
Wher with Brennyus he hadde a gret bataille,
Consul of Rome & lord of that contre.
And to thencres of his felicite,
As [it] is remembred in historie,
Vpon Romeyns he gat that victorie.
and won by The olifauntis with castelis on ther bak
means of his
elephants with Caused Pirrus, the yonge manli knyht,
casties on
backs. With his wisdam, in which ther was no lak,
To putte his enmyes that day to the fliht.
And in this while it happed foorth nht,
The Secilians, Bochas berth record,
Among hemsilff[e] wer at gret discord.
At that time Ther was atween hem gret dyuisioun,
t dj d s s .
rere ot cueord Ech to other contrarie in werkyng;
selves and But to refourme ther fals discencioun,
asked Pyrrhus : 2 :
to be ther [hei preted Pirrus to come & be ther kyng.
Sa To whos request he fulli assentyng,
Bi them maad strong, list nat to differre,
Ageyn the Romeyns to begynze a werre.
He assented, Beside a castell callid Esculus,
strengthened by Withynne Poile, his baneres he gan splaie.
them, attacke 2
the Romans at The same day, nat happi nor vrous,
Naples, where . Z ‘;
he was defeated Contrarious Fortune his power gan affraie,
and ran 4™4Y- Wounded to the deth gan gretli hym dismaye,*
Be which occasioun this Pirrus anon nht
Leep on his courseer & took hym to the fliht.
He made hie A sone he hadde callid Helenus,
king of Sicily Born of the douhtir of kyng Agothodes,
Whom he ordeyned, myn auctour tellith thus,
For to be crowned, to his gret encres,
On Sicilians to regne ther in pes,
Weenyng therbi taue had auauntage.
And in this while cam to hym a massage
3808. gan R.
3809. Heraclie] om. H.
3810. Brennyus] Leuinus P — gret] strong H.
3813. it]om. R, J, H, P. 3815. bak] bakkis H.
3818. to the vntoH. 3820. berth] bers H.
3827. strong| om. R. ;
3829. Asculus P. 3833. dismaye] disamaie B.
3837. Agathocles P. 3840. ther to regne H, R 3.
3808
3812
3816
3820
3824
3828
3832
3836
3840
BK. Iv |
Out of Tharente, which stood in auenture
For his absence out of that regeoun, —
Yif he nat cam, thei myhte nat endure
Ageyn the poweer of them of Rome toun,
Which of assent* wer descendid doun
Ageyn[e]s hem, thei stondyng in dispa{i]re,
Sauff in abidyng upon his repair.
Pirrus this while stood in ful hard{e] poynt,
Wex abasshed & dul in his corage,
Atwix[e] too hangyng in disioynt:
Werreied of Romeyns, hatid in Cartage;
Hadde a bataille to his fynal damage
Withynne a feeld callid Arusius,
Ther put to fliht bi oon Fabricius.
Destitut bi fortune & appeired,
Void of socour, bareyn of richesse,
Lik a man of hope disespeired,
Toward Epire in haste he gan hym dresse,
Wher he was first, his stori doth expresse,
As ye han herd rehersed be writyng,
Bi successioun whilom lord & kyng.
But whan he cam to Epire his cite,
He gan of newe ageyn Antigonus,
Kyng of Macedoyne, a ful strong contre,
Hym to werreie he was so desirous.
And bi conquest, the stori tellith thus,
Withynne a while, ther was no gret lettyng,
Bi helpe of Fortune he was crownid kyng.
Nat seuene monethes regnyng in quiete,
Bi Lysymachus, maugre al his myht,
He was put doun & remeued from his s¢ete.
Yit of presumpcioun, thouh ther was no nht,
He took on hym to gynze a newe fiht
Geyn Lacedemoyns, & felli them werreie,
Onli because thei wolde hym nat obeie.
Whos presumpcioun whan that thei beheeld,
Bothe of prudence & of policie
Women wer armed to make a large feeld,
With multitude toppressen his partie,
3846. the}ther R. 3847. assent] ascent B.
3851. abaissht R. 3855. Arusius] Tarentinus P.
3859. despeired R, J, disepeirid H.
The Story of Pyrrbus, King of Epirus 579
and went to
dareat aay
where the
3844 ple were
ard pressed
by the Romans.
3848
Harassed by
the Romans
and hated in
Carthage, he
was again
3852 Fetes
3856
and, returning
to Epirus in evil
plight,
3860
3864 ous
successful war
against
Antigonus of
Macedon and
mas sonnes
ing in his
3868 stead.
Seven months
ape he Dik
ethron y
3872 Lysimachus and
presumptuously
attacked the
Spartans.
3876
Even the
women took
the field against
him, and his
3880 son was slain.
580 The Death of Pyrrbus. Aristotimus [ BK. Iv
For comoun profht put hem in iupartie;
And fynalli such was ther ordenaunce,
That seid[e] Pirrus was brouht to myschaunce. 3884
Afterwards —_ His sone ther slayn, callid Tholome, [p. 255]
the Arsives and And many other loste ther her lyues;
y ° °
a stone as he Yit for al that, of pride and cruelte,
city wall. He gan a werre ageyn[e]s the Argyues. 3888
And at the eende of al his mortal striues,
For conclusioun, this was his laste fall,
Slayn with a ston as he cam to ther wall.
His head wae His hed smet off in the same place, 3802
vent to Antig- And therof made an oblacioun
To Antigonus for a gret solace.
Thus list Fortune quite his presumpcioun,
Afftir his werris with many regioun. 3896
Loo, heer the eende of folkis rek[e]les
That folwed werre & list nat lyue in pes!
[How the tiraunt Aristotyn/ bi trecherous werkyng
sette a-side the right lyne/ was crowned kyng
of Epirothes & aftir slayn. |!
siege a RTH procedyng, folwyng Iohn Bochas
aside the tao I will reherse in ful pleyn langage 3900
eae How Aristotyn, a tiraunt, this the cas,
Caste & compassed bi ful gret outrage,
Hauyng no title of mht nor heritage,
Of Epirothes bi trecherous werkyng 3904
Voidyng the lyne, ther to be crowned kyng.
Prleny,ssa Lyuyng too childre, the stori tellith thus,
became king Born bi discent to regne in that cite,
Theldest of them callid was Pirrus 3908
And the second named Tholome;
And bothe tweyne bi the cruelte
Of Aristotyn wer falsli set aside,
He maad[e] kyng, this tiraunt, thoruh his pride. 3912
Like « tyrant’ And whil that he thus gan occupie,
exiled all the Tik a tiraunt cruel & vengable,
notables :
Of fals[e] rancour and malencolie
3885. R omits to line 484 of Book V. 3886. loste] lefft H.
3896. many a H.
3901. Aristotimus P. 3910. the] om. H.
1 MS. J. leaf 104 recto.
BK. Iv |
Slouh al the citeseyns that wer most notable,
And exilid, this stori is no fable, |
Onli of malis withynne his herte cloos,
Al that wer contrary vnto his purpos.
Vnto the women bi fraudulent sentence
He made ordeyne, aftir that anon,
Of feyned pite gaff to them licence
To ther freendis freeli for to gon
With ther richessis; but thei wer euerichon
Bi his biddyng & bi his fals tresoun
Take bi the weie & fetrid in prisoun, —
Or thei wer war was set on them arest.
And aftir that, of vengable cruelte
The[r] childre slay[e]n, sovkyng at ther brest,
Maidnes oppressid of ther virgynyte.
But in this while, at Epire* the cite
Ther was a kniht passyng of gret age,
Which caste of purpos tauenge [t]his outrage. |
This same kniht, myn auctour tellith thus,
In the stori pleynli as I reede,
Was in Greek tunge callid Bellanicus,
Riht wis & manli bothe in werk & deede.
And thynges tweyne put hym out of dreede
Texecute his purpos in certeyn,
Maugre alle tho that wolde been hym ageyn.
For comoun profht he drad nat to* be ded;
A cause was this: for he was falle in age;
And a-nother, that put hym out of dreed,
For he no childre hadde of his lynage.
His quarell mhtfull gaf hym auauntage,
And heerupon gadred hym of newe
Such as he knew that manli wer & trewe.
This purpos holde with circumspect auis,
And theron maad ful prudent ordenaunce,
This Bellanicus, old, hardi & mht wis,
Afforn prouided bi knihtli purueiaunce,
The said[e] tiraunt brouht onto myschaunce
Bi help of them that wer to hym assentid,
Vnwarli slayn, whos deth was nat repentid.
3916. most] full H.
3929. children H.
3934. This] The H.
3941. to] for to B.
3925. 2nd bi] om.
3936. Helematus
The Fate of Artstotimus the Tyrant 581
3916
and told the
392° women they
could go
to their friends
and take their
possessions
with them.
3924
But after they
nae started on
their journey
3928 ) waylaid
them and put
them in prison,
slew their
children and
oppressed the
maidens.
3932
An old knight
named
Hellicanus
resolved to
3936 punish this
outrage.
3949
Childless, and
too old to fear
of supporters
3944
and slew the
3948 tyrant.
3952
H.
3931. atjinH, R3, Hs? P— Epire] Cipre B.
582 The Adultery and Death of Queen Arsinoe [BK. IV
[How quene Arcynoe for the auoutrie don with
Demetrius husbond of hir douhtir Beronices/
ended in sorow. | '
tee pce FFTIR this stori Bochas gan applie
yo be perverse To turne his penne, lik as ye shal heere,
licentiousness
of Arsinoe, who To wnite & tell the froward lecherie
beautiful. Of Arsynoe, plesaunt of look & cheere,
Which of hir port & eek of hir maneere
Was in hir daies, lik as it is founde,
For crafft & beute callid Venus the secounde.
mule Of Maras, For hir fairnesse youen in mariage
of Cyrene, To noble Agas of Cirenes kyng,
* ee And atween hem, whil thei wer yong of age,
was by her Thei hadde a douhtir, bi record of writyng,
to marry the Callid Beronices; the kyng at his eendyng
clemy: In his testament bad she sholde be
Weddid to the sone of kyng Tholome.
And this was doon of entencioun
To cese the werris, that hadde endured longe
Atween Egipt, as maad is mencioun,
And the Cirenes, bothe rewmys stronge:
Bi this mariage that he myhte vndirfonge
In his deyng to sette a fynal pes
Tween these too rewmys for ther bothe encres.
but aftes M2s® After whos deth[e], thus the mateer stood:
married Berenice Queen Arsynoe, most subtil in werkyng,
Ageyn this mateer so cruel was & wood,
Manied hir douhtir, withoute mor lettyng,
Callid Beronices, ageyn[e]s the biddyng
-Of hir fadir, that callid was Agas,
As heer-toforn rehersid is the caas.
to Demetrius, She maried hire to oon Demetrivs
Antigonus, king That brother was, bi Bochas rehersyng,
Onto the myhti grete Antigonvs,
Beyng 1n Grece of Macedoyne kyng.
But infortunat was afftir hir weddyng,
As in this stori suyng ye shal see,
Bi the fals werkyng of queen Arsynoe.
3977. most subtil in werkyng] made sotile werkyng H.
3956
3960
3964
3968
3972
3976
3980
3984
3988
3984. bi] om. H. 3987. was afftir hir] he was afftir this H.
1 MS. J. leaf 104 verso.
Bk.1Iv] The Adultery and Death of Queen Arsinoe
And to conclude shortli this mateere,
Whan this queen, this double Arsynoe,
Sauh of Demetrius the visage & the cheere,
His look, his colour, his langage & beute,
His manli port & his liberalite,
She was enamoured, of flesshli fals plesaunce,
Lik hir desir taue his aqueyntaunce.
Of hir nature she was most lecherous;
And of hir froward inclynacioun
She brouhte aboute that Demetrius
Assentid was bi hir suggestioun
For tacomplisshe, lik hir oppynyour,
Al hir desirs of flesshli appetit:
Thus of accord thei folwed ther delit.
Lefft his wiff callid Beronices,
The queenys douhtir, & ageyn al riht
In a place secre, out of pres,
Thei lay togidre almost euery nyht,
Takyng non heed of God nor of no wiht,
Til of fortune the cas is so befall,
That he was hatid_of his knihtis all,
Despiht thei hadde of Arsynoe,
The deede horrible whan thei dide espie.
His wiff Beronices eek whan she dede see
Hooli the maner of ther ribaudie,
In herte she kauhte a gret malencolie,
Ordeyned knihtis in steel armid briht
In ther auoutry to take* hem on a niht.
Liggyng a-bedde, slepte & took no keepe
Afftir fals lustis which thei hadden vsid,
Thei fill upon hem euene whil* thei sleepe.
The deede open myht nat been excusid,
To al the world[e] thus thei wern accusid.
With suerdis drawe the knihtis thilke niht
To slen hem bothe wer purposed anon riht.
Out on Beronices! crieth Iohn Bochas,
Because she bad spare Arsynoe,
Ground, roote & gynnyng of this horrible caas,
Seide hir merci was verray cruelte, —
3993. &] his H, R3, Hs. 4009. is] om. H.
4017. take] taken B.
4020. whil] whan B, J, R 3, when P.
583
When Arsinoe
saw Demetrius,
who was very
erect is she
in love
3992 vith him
3996
and 80 managed
that she
became his
mistress.
4000
He forsook
4004 Berenice and
was hated oy
his knights for
his behaviour.
In her wrath,
Berenice
ordered armed
men to take
Arsinoe and
Demetrius in
their adultery.
4012
4016
Falling upon
them in their
sleep with
drawn swords,
4020 they were about
to put them
both to death;
4024
but Berenice
bade them spare
Arsinoe’s lite,
which Bochas
says was avery
foolish thing to
4028 do,
584 The Adultery and Death of Queen Arsinoe [BK. IV
To saue suchon it was a fals pite,
As seith myn auctour, a thyng contrarious,
Hir to preserue & slen Demetrius!
for she wat’ 4 O Beronices, smal is thi discrecioun, 4032
the trouble. ‘To saue the queen that hath thi[s] tresoun founde.
First to Demetrius she gaff occasioun,
For which she sholde haue had the firste wounde
Take for them bothe, and in cheynis bounde; — 4036
And aftir that, this fals Arsynoe
Texaumple of other sholde haue punshed bee.
Arsinoe shielded And whil thei wer[e]n thus taken in cloos,
her naked body [he said Arsynoe made no delay, 4040
But from hir bed anon she up aroos,
Withoute clothes, naked as she lay,
Ran to ther suerdis in al ther gret affray,
Wente atween hem, did hir besi peyne 4044
To bere of strokis with hir armys tweyne.
ind begged the To saue Demetrius, naked as she stood,
him and kill Void of al dreed[e] dede hir besi cure,
Hir white bodi al bespreynt with blood, 4048
Gan to crien out on eueri creature,—
“Alas,” quod she, “lat me allone endure
Deth be my-silff! ye been to despitous,
To save my lyff and slen Demetrius!” 4052
But it was of To the erthe anon she fill adoun, [p. 257]
both died. = ‘To stonde upriht she myht[e] nat susteene,
Ded, pale & wan, with many pitous soun
Deth of Demetrius gan wofulli bemeene, 4056
Enbracyng hym with al his woundis greene,
And in hir armys, al-be that he lay ded,
She kissid his mouth, cold, blew & nothyng red.
pea In sorwe & compleynt thus she made an eende. 4060
Lee I write no mor of this Arsynoe,
tolemy.
But to Beronices ageyn I wil now weende;
For Bochas seith, the stori ye may see,
She aftir was weddid to Tholome,* 4064
Lik as it was hir fadris first entent,
Whan he deied & made his testament. 4066
q Finis libri quarti.
4033. this] thi J, thy P. 4041. roos H
4064. Tholome] worthi Tholome B, J, woorthy Ptholome P.
BOOK V
g Incipit Liber Quintus.
(Here Bochas writeth ayenst hem pat delite in beute
& semlynesse, calling to purpos how, A man,
born in Tuscan which excellid in beute and
fairenesse, and for his beute sholdenot* geve
othir occasioun to synne he disfigured his visage
with many a grete wounde and spotte. | !
EER Iohn Bochas scorneth & hath
disdeyn
Of thre maner folk he dide see
Heer in bis world[e], which pat in certeyn
Set al ther ioie and ther felicite
For texelle in fairnesse & beute,
Natwithstandyng, as he* weel telle can,
It hath vndoon ful many worthi man.
Record he taketh of Demetrius,
Which in his tyme was fairest in certeyn,
Which caused hym to be contrarious
To al vertu; his stori ye haue* seyn.
But of tho folk Bochas hath most disdeyn,
That besi been to conquere & recure
Beute bi crafft, which kometh nat of nature.
The thridde is he that gruchcheth ageyn Kynde
For lak of stature or* of semlynesse:
And alle thes thre be ignoraunt & blynde,
And ageyn resoun ther corages thei up dresse.
Yit aboue beute vertu is maistresse;
And litil worth is fairnesse in certeyn
In a persone wher no vertu Is seyn.
6. he] ye B, J.
11. haue] han B.
13. to conquere] by conquest to H.
16. or] & B, J, P.
1 MS. J. leaf 105 recto — sholdenot] sloddenot J. )
585 '
7. many aH.
ohn Bochas
cre exp
i
[p. 259] h Scontenipr {ce
three sorts of
8 those who seek
to obtain beauty
by art which
comes not from
nature, and
those who
complain of
their lack of
I2 stature or good
looks.
16
Virtue is above
20 beauty.
586 Bochas’ Scorn of Sensuality
Bochas tells the Vnto purpos he tellith of a man
Tuscan called "That excelled al other in fairnesse,
fares brought Callid Spurnya, & born was in Tuscan. -
dotage; And folkis hadde ioie and gret gladnesse
To beholde hym for his semlynesse,
Whos beute brouht[e] women 1n dotage,
Whan thei caste ther look on his visage.
Wyues, maydnes duellyng in that contre
Presed faste on hym to beholde,
Bi thoccasioun of his gret beute,
Nat onli yonge, but summe that wer olde.
[BK. Vv
With louis accesse now wer thei hoot, now colde: °
Thus was his beute to many creature
Founde in effect a [ful] pereilous lure.
their hubands HLusbondis olde kauhte a fantasie
were jesious be And hadde in maner a suspecioun,
resolvedto Stered bi the serpent of fals ielousie,
occasion, Toward Spurnya, as maad is mencioun;
But for tauoide al euel occasioun
Of any peeple that such malis thouhte,
Ye shal heere how wisli that he wrouhte.
by defacing his To put a-wey fals delectacioun
countenance
ith ®. ge
with o many And alle occasiouns of Cupidis rage,
ashes, that He of prudence and discrecioun
e lost all his . . ° °
attraction. | With many wounde diffaced his visage;
For he dempte it was a gret damage,
That bi thenchesoun of excellent beute
Any creature hyndred sholde be.
Wi oge e e
Vhiosophereand Philisophres & poetis that wer wise
poets com- Gaff vnto hym gret comendaciouz,
mended him | 7 :
greatly for this That he koude so notabli deuise,
notable deed. ° ° °
To fynde a weie withynne his resoun,
To sette aside al occasioun
Of such vnleefful fless[h]li fantasie,
That myhte stere women to lecherie.
He saw that all °
He saw thet“ He knew afforn & sauh bexperience,
like summer ‘That al beute shal waste a-wey & fade
Lik somer flours in ther most excellence,
That growe on hillis & lowe doun in the shade:
The rose, the lilie, whan thei be most glade,
34. many aH. 35. ful] om. J. 44. alle] fals H.
36
40
52
56
BK. V |
Vpon ther stalkis — ther preef is alday seyn —
Been beten doun with a stormy reyn.
And semblabli in eueri creature
Of louh degre or of hih estat,
Beute abit nat, nor lenger doth endure
Than youthes sesoun; with age is ful chekmaat.
Who thynketh heron, I holde hym fortunat,
And can afforn[e] in his resoun caste,
No worldli beute in erthe may alway laste.
g Lenvoye.
E worldli folk that reio[i]she in beute,
Seeth with the eien of your aduertence
How with a smal sodeyn infirmyte,
Whan deth & age list shewen ther presence,
Disteyne al fresshnesse with vnwar violence,
Ageyn whos myht ther 1s non other grace:
Processe of yeeris al beute doth difface.
Thouh Demetrius was fair vpon to see,
As ye han herd rehersid in sentence,
Geyn lawe & riht he loued Arsynoe,
Thoccasioun founde bi hir fals insolence,
Because resoun made no resistence,
Nat aduertyng how eueri hour & space
Processe of yeeris al beute doth difface.
And tofor God hatful ther offence.
For thoruh fals lust of sensualite,
Lost was the bridil of inward prouidence.
Sharp mortal suerd made the recompence,
Drownid in teres, whan she dide hym enbrace,
With bloodi woundis disfigured al his face.
O noble Princis, lat this stori bee
A cleer merour to your magnificence,
Theryn considerid the fals fragilite
Of worldli fairnesse, which is but apparence
And transitorie, but so be that prudence
Gouerne the passage vicious lust tenchace:
Processe of yeeris al beute doth difface!
75. vnwar] sodeyn H.
80. ageyn H.
QI. dishiguryng H.
An Envoy on Worldliness and Sensuality
64
68
72
76
587
and lasts no
longer than
youth. I hold all
men fortunate
who are aware
of this.
Ye worldly folk,
who rejoice in
beauty,
remember that
its freshness is
dimmed by age
and death.
Although
Demetrius
was fair, he
loved Arsinoe
80 against law and
right.
84
Ful horrible was ther iniquite, [p. 260
Their sin was
horrible and
hateful to God,
and their
recompense was
death.
O noble
92 Princes, remem-
ber the fragility
of worldly
beauty, which
is but appear-
ance unless
prudence banish
96 all vicious
desires.
588 The Discord of Seleucus and Antiochus (BK. v
[How the too brethern, Seleuchus and Anthiochus
eche desirous to excellen other fel at discord
ended in mischeff. |!
po naniacuse HER is no man pat ca in stori reede
Detwern kinctcs: Of mor myscheef nor of mor debat, 100
especially when
they are persons Than of debat bat is atween kynreede,
’ Tween blood & blood, geyn kynde infortunat;
Namli in personys which been of hih estat,
As it fill onys, the stori berp record, 104
Atween to brethre that wer at discord.
Seleucus and , Phe ton Seleuchus, Antiochus the tothir,
brothers, blinded As the stori heeraftir shal deuise:
y worldly
covetousness, Ech desirous for texcellen othir 108
were bitter ‘ . ° e
rivals. In worldli worshep; & wonderli thei wer wise.
And bothe blent bi worldli couetise
For to clymben up to hih estat,
Which caused hem to been at debat. 112
mighty blogs Bothe mihti kyngis, Bochas makth mencioun,
ang both were And of o wombe sothli thei wer born,
by the war that Vndir a cursid fell constellacioun:
arose between
them. Of froward seed may growe no good{[e] corn. 116
And thoruh couetise bothe thei wer lorn
And destroied bi the mortal werre
That was atween hem, in Asie nih & ferre.
It is grievous Tt is to me verray contagious 736
pares baa ses, LO reede the batailles & the discenciouns,
he false promyses of Antiochus,
With his* deceitis & conspiraciouns.
Brethre of berthe & off condiciouns, 124
Contrarious weies euer thei dede weende,
Froward ther gynnyng [&] froward was ther eende.
Theis mother Ther mooder was callid Laodices,
ear avs And in Asia Seleuchus was regnyng, 128
gatachus ip Euer at welre, koude nat lyue in pes;
lived “amon And in Surrie Antiochus was kyng.
always fed © And among robbours thei made ber eendyng:
Fouche” Wher-euer thei fauht, outher in wrong or mht, —_132
Thei neuer abod but took hem to the fiiht.
102. geyn] ageyn H. 107. the] their H.
123. his] the B.
133. Neverthei bood J, P—to the] vn to H — the] om. J, P,
1 MS, J. leaf 105 verso.
BK. V |
Thouh Seleuchus was at his gynnyng
Shynyng in glorie & in hih prowesse,
And of Asie he was lord & kyng,
With gret diffame was dirked his noblesse,
Because that he of gret vnkyndenesse
Ful falsli slouh, withoute iugement,
His yonger brother, that was innocent.
And bi the biddyng of Laodices,
Which was his mooder, of hatful cruelte
Falsli to moordre the queen Beronices,
Wiff to the kyng callid Tholome,
Regnyng in Egipt; but it stood that he,
For al his poweer, failed of his pray,
Because that she was war & fledde a-way.
Yit aftirward, of old hate & envie,
This Seleuchus, bi ful fals tresoun,
Moordred Beronices bi conspiracie,
Hir sone also, as maad is mencioun.
The sclaundre aros thoruh many a regioun
And was reportid onto his diffame,
Wherthoruh he loste his worshep & his name.
And on this moordre auengid for to bee,
For thorrible gret abusioun,
The kyng of Egipt, the said[e] Tholome,
Gan make hym strong, & cam with peeple doun.
But for ther was so gret discencioun
Thoruh al his lond, the stori seith certeyn,
He was constreyned to retourne hom ageyn.
Seleuchus thanne maad a strong arme,
Gadred shippis, stuffed hem with vitaile,
Toward Asie he taken hath the se,
The Discord of Seleucus and Antiochus
589
Seleucus lost
his good name
by slaying an
innocent
136 pounss
Berenice, wife
of emy,
if she had not
144 run away.
Yet he
148 succeeded in
slaying her
together with
her son
afterwards.
152
Ptolemy sought
dee ty but
cou o
156 cothing be-
cause of the
dissensions in
his kingdom.
160
Seleucus then
collected an
army and ships
oe he ah
or Asia, where
164 he was forced
But such tempest gan his peeple assaile, to land by a
That ther hertis and poweer gar to faile, peonle tested
With thundryng, lihtnyng vengabli distreyned, ene;
To take the lond of neede he was constreyned. _ 168
The peeple of Asie seyng this myscheeff, [p. 261]
Hadde of Seleuchus gret compassioun;
And ther socour to setten at a preeff,
Thei hym resceyued into that regeoun, 172
150. fals conspiracie H.
167. lihenyne) tevenynig=-eutreynedd disteynyd H.
169. The]Th
590
He began a
war against
Prolemy and
was defeated.
Promising his
brother to
The Discord of Seleucus and Antiochus [BK. Vv
Thouh it [so] stood, as maad is mencioun,
That affor-tyme for his cruel deede
Thei hadde his persone in ful gret hatreede.
And for he fond Fortune fauourable, 176
Nat considryng hir mutabilite,
He cast of rancour for to be vengable,
And gynne a werre ageyn{es] Tholome.
His men outraied, he was maad to flee; 180
Knew no refuge nor socour of non othir,
But for gret myscheeff sente to his brothir, —
I meene his brothir callid Antiochus,
crown him king Behestyng hym for to crowne hym kyng 184
of Asia, he . ° . °
asked his sid, Of al Asie, his stori tellith thus,—
ut in the
meanwhile made 1 Ook treus this while, be sotil fals werkyng,
a ten years’
truce with
Prolemy;
and when his
brother came
to help him
failed to keep
his promise;
so they
fell out again
and fought, an
Seleucus fled,
With Tholome for ten yeer enduryng;
And whan his brother cam with his poweer, 188
Falsid his promys, double of herte & cheer.
Thus of newe thei fillen at debat;
Euerich gan other myhtili werreie.
Fals couetise tencrecen ther estat 192
Caused that nouther list other to obeie.
4 Mette in a feeld, ther is no mor to seie,
atwashiewont. Fauht hand of hand ther hostis bothe too;
When he fled,
the Syrians an
Galatians
thought he had
Seleuchus fledde, as he was wont to doo. 196
Thus a fals werre of hatreede fraternall
Ageyn nature set hem at discord,
Ech bisi was in especiall,
As ther stori remembreth be record, 200
Neuer ther lyue to been of oon accord.
But whan Seleuchus was thus put to fliht,
The peeple off Surrie gan deemen anon riht,
That he that day was outher taken or ded; 204
d ,
And Gallocrecs, a peeple of gret pouste,
been killed, and Of couetise gan haste hem ful gret speed
started to.
pillage Asia,
Tentre Asie, & spoille al that contre.
To Antiochus thei hadde eek enmyte, 208
That he was fayn for his sauacioun
To patie to them a ful gret raunsoun.
173. maadislismadeH. 195. of]forH. |
205. Gallogreies H, Gallogreecs R 3, Gallocreis J, Gallogres H 5.
BK. Vv |
Ther herte was youe onli to pillage,
Takyng of hym of gold gret quantite,
And he, seyng of robbyng the outrage,
Drouh to the pillours; & oon of them was he.
And thoruh al Asie thei robbed ech contre;
For Seleuchus thei gan so purchace,
That he nat durste abiden in no place.
Than Antiochus drouh to Tholome,
Void of sauffconduit or any assuraunce,
Thouh that atween hem was gret enmyte
For a sesoun, as maad is renembraunce,
Tafounde socour in his gret greuaunce.
But al for nouht; for in conclusioun
Tholome hym took & cast in derk prisouz.
Ther constreyned of necessite,
Knowyng no mene to make[n] his raunsouz,
Bi a woman that lyued in pouerte
He was holp out of that merk prisoun.
Loo, heer of Fortune a fals condicioun,
That koude make a kyng withoute peere
Of a woman to stonden in daungeere!
To proude folk this may be a merour,
To seen a prince thus sodeynli brouht lowe,
That shon in richesse lik an emperour,
Which of disdeyn[e] list no man to knowe.
Now its he cast; now is he ouerthrowe;
Now hath he cause to pleyne, weepe & mourne,
Knowyng no freend for socour hym to tourne.
He was afferd to holden his passage
Bi hih-weies, or for to kome in siht;
Fill among theues; & thei be gret outrage
Al merciles thei* slouh hym anon mht.
And his brother, for al his gret[e] myht,
Callid Seleuchus, which was a gret[e] wonder,
Fill from his courseer & brak his nek assonder.
ait. Wetec a bbery H, R a
213. robbyng] ro 3, robery 1 5.
ise To haue founde fy P.
224. in derk]h R3,H 5s.
228. merk] dirke H, R 3, yrke H s, darke P.
242. thei] cher B.
The End of Seleucus and Antiochus 59!
and were joined
by Antiochus,
212 who paid them
a large ransom.
216
Seleucus was
pursued from
place to place;
and Antiochus
220 went to
Ptolemy
without a safe
conduct and
was put in
prison.
224
A woman
helped him
escape, although
he was one o
the greatest of
228 kings!
232 This should be
an example to
all prou
people.
236
Afraid to travel
oa the highway ay;
© he was captur
24 and slain b
robbers. is
brother
Seleucus fell
off his horse
and broke his
244 neck.
592 Queen Laodameia slain in the Temple of Diana (BK. v
[How the noble quene Leodomia was in the temple
slayn, and vengeaunce taken/ vpon him that
slouh hir. | !
oie rine eed ene of estatis, princis & princessis,
came before Shewed hem to Bochas pitousli pleynyng,
pireously To hym declaryng ther mortal heuynessis; 248
a And first of alle ther cam to hym weepyng
The noble queen, hir sorwes rehersyng,
Cald Laodomya, which with ful heuy cheere
Compleyned the myscheef of hir sustir deere, 252
The first of | Callid Nereis, yong & tendre of age, [p. 262]
th e e e
Lacdameia, who That weddid was of Cicile to the kyng.
complained ; °
thatwhen | And on the day of that gret mariage,
her sister
Nereis married Lher fill a stryff & a gret meuyng 256
Sa@% Among the comouns bamaner of risyng;
That whan the queen[e] therof hadde a siht,
To Dians* temple anon she took hir fliht.
thecommons ‘The peeple was parti, & roos ageyn the kyng; — 260
iad the two "For which[e] rumour & the sodeyn striff,
to the tape _Laodomya, ful feerfulli quakyng,
ceiesert ria Ran to the temple for to saue hir lyff,
Supposyng in hyr ymagynatiff, 264
That for the templis chast[e] reuerence
Men wolde spare to do ther violence.
Lacdameia § But ther was oon bi whom the striff began,
was slain
before the And was first ground of this gret mociouz, 268
Milo; ~~ Calllid Milo, a fals Cicilian,
Void of al reuerence & deuocioun.
Ran to the temple fersere than leoun,
And wher the queen the auter dede enbrace, 272
With a sharp suerd[e] slouh hir in the place.
but the gods ~This sacrilege was punshed be vengaunce;
and Diana
punished his Goddis wer wroth with this gret offence.
| e e e e
A pete And Diana bi ful gret displesaunce 276
pernence id Made in the contre a sodeyn pestilence;
Milo went mad And Milo was bi vnwar violence
and sicw
himeel go the Turnid bestial, maad wood in that affray,
after. And slouh hymsy/(I]ff suyng the tuelfte day. 280
247. compleynyng H. 249. to hym ther cam H, R 3, H 5.
fe, Diane] Diana B, dyanysR 3, Dianes P.. 260. peeples Hi.
1 MS. J. leaf 106 recto.
BK. V |
The Fate of Cleomenes and his Family
593
[How* Cleomens ky[ng] of Macedoyne was slayn
with his wif and childre.]!
FFTIR this vengaunce taken on Milo,
Cam Cleomenes of Macedoyne kyng;
And to Bochas gan shewe* his dedli wo,
His gret iniuries of enmyes assailyng,
His hih emprises, his kyngdam defendyng,
And aldirlast how he in his cite
Was bi the sone slayn off Tholome.
First in his contre, the stori doth deuise,
Ageyn his enmyes he hadde a gret bataile,
Of his peeple deffendyng the fraunchise
Of knihtli prowesse, as he that list nat faile
For his niht to fiht in plate & maile,
His lieges echon beyng of assent
To lyue and deie with hym in ther entent.
Men and women, & childre yong of age
Wern of oon herte as in this mateere,
Which made hem strong & gaff* gret auauntage,
That vndeuided thei stood echon ifeere
Off o corage, off o will & o cheere,
Gretli assurid in ther oppynyoun,
Because among hem was no dyuysioun.
Ther comoun profit thei dede mor preferre
Than thei dede tresour, lyff or good;
For ther fredam ay redi to the werre,
Nat afferd* to spende ther owne blood.
And fynali togidre so* thei stood,
That of o thouht ech gan hym redi make,
To lyue and deie for his brothres sake.
Thei* hadde an enmy born of that regeoun,
The name of whom was Antigonus;
And he had weddid, the book makth mencioun,
The olde queen of kyng Demetrius,
283. toshewe B. 285. kyndamH.
297. gaff | gat B, J, gate P.
299. 2nd off ] om. H.
305. offerd B.
306. so togidre B, J, P, H, H s.
308. brothis H.
2ag. Thei] That B, J, H 5s, Than R 3.
eas MS. J. leaf 106 verso — How] His J.
0
Cleomenes, king
of onia,
who was alain
by the son
© = oeny, next
appea to
284 Bochas.
" 988 He defended
his country
against its
enemies
292
and had the
support of all
296 his people,
for there was
no division
among them.
300
They preferred
their common
to all
other things
304 and were not
afraid to shed
their blood for
their country.
308
Their enemy
wae Antigonus,
who had
married the old
ueen of king
emetrius and
312 usurped the
594 The Fate of Cleomenes and bis Family [ BK. V
crown of Sparta And hadde hir sone, the stori tellith thus,
in behalf of h
con Philip; Callid Phelipp, for youthe in his keepyng,
Therbi pretendyng a title to be kyng.
bu heen Off Lacedemonois cleymed ageyn mht 316
the kingdom Ther to regne & take pocessioun,
ora 13
presumption. Lik a tiraunt vsurpyng of gret myht,
For to be crowned in that regeoun.
But for al his fals presumpcioun 320
He was put of and Iset a-ferre,
Thouh he with hem heeld a [ful] mortal werre.
Cleomenes And Cleomenes that was mhtful kyng
battlefield Was in the feeld[e] armyd eueri day, 324
hardy asa tion. Hardi as leoun, dradde hym [in] nothyng,
Geyn his enmyes he stood so at a-bay,
That from the feeld he maad hem fleen away:
His dreedful suerd grounden was so keene, 328
That tabide hym [thei] myhte nat susteene.
Finallyhe = And on a day diffendyng his cite,
the conta Heeld in the feeld[e] a ful strong bataille;
thoughtit. | With litil peeple made his foon to flee, 332
wove nee Retournyng hom ful weri of trauaille,
Thouhte in his herte that it sholde auaille
To stynte the werre hangyng in noun certeyn,
Til that his peeple refresshid wer ageyn. "336
until his people Set ordenaunce thoruh al the contre [p. 263]
had recovered. a
Leaving his Geyn al enmyes to make resistence;
coun we e e
guarded, he | And into Egipt he goth to Tholome,
went to Egypt
with his wife. With wiff & childre withdrawyng his presence. 340
nd iived there Lher resceyued with gret benyuolence
until Ptolemy's Lich his estat, out of care & dreed,
And ther abood til Tholome was* ded.
But afterwards But the sone of kyng Tholome, 344
sew him and Which regnid aftir bi successioun,
a strange and Of fals envie & vengable cruelte
cruel thing t© Slouh Cleomenes in that regeoun,
His wiff & childre, void of compassioun. 348
Alas, it was to straunge a cruel thyng,
Withynze his* kyngdam to moordre so a kyng.
326. ageyn H.
329. Thac} For H. R 3, H 5—thei] om. R 3.
338. ageyn H.
343. was] wer B, J. 350. his] a B, J, P.
BK.V] Huiero of Syracuse, Cornelius and Hannibal
[Of kyng Yero*, Cornelie, and Hanybal. ] !
FFTIR whos deth bus wrouht bi violence,
[As] the stori remembreth proceedyng,
Foorth cam Yero & shewed his presence,
Of Siracuse the myhti stronge kyng,
Tofor Bochas ful pitousli pleynyng,
Besechyng hym with a ful pitous cheere
Of his myscheef to writen the maneere.
The which Yero, wilful & furious,
List to presume of fals rebellioun
For to debate with Appius Claudius,
And to maligne ageyn[es] Rome toun.
But he anon for his presumpcioun
Constreyned was, in al his moste pride,
Lik a coward to fleen & nat abide.
No mor of hym myn auctour writeth heer,
But in his book[e] as he doth proceede,
g Ther cam Cornelie, of Rome a consuleer,
Hymsilff compleynyng of the gret falsheede
Which onto hym acomplisshed was in deede,
Bassuraunce broke, of olde Hanybal,
Which of Cartage was cheeff admyral.
To this Cornelie Hanybal was sworn
With the Affricanes bamaner flaterie,
To socoure hym, as I* ha[ue] tolde toforn,
With the Romeyzs to holde up his partie.
But whan thei mette, the book doth specefie,
Corneli take & fetrid in prisoun,
At myscheeff deied; ther geyned no raunsoun.
Than Hanybal entred of entent
With his knihtis inta gret cite
Of Cicile callid Agrigent,
Wher Iulius Silua, of old enmyte,
Leid a siege with a gret meyne,
That he constreyned the saide Hanybal
For verray hunger to lepe ouer the wal.
Bi a posterne he took hym to the fliht,
Gadred shippis & took the Large Se.
And Iulius Silua, lik a manli kniht,
368. of}on H. 371. Amyrall H. 374. I] we B, J.
MS. J. leaf 107 recto. Yero] Nero J.
595
Hiero of
Stes
2 besought
35 Bochas to write
the manner of
his misfortune.
356
He rebelled
against Rome
and fought with
pius
360 Chudius,
and was com-
lled to flee
ike a coward.
has wrote
no more about
him.
364
Cornelius, a
Roman consul,
came next and
complained
of the deceit of
Hannibal,
admiral of
Carthage, who
swore to sup-
port him
against Rome,
and then let
him die in
prison.
oo
36
372
376
Hannibal was
afterwards
380 besieged by
Julius Silva ia
npricentam,
whence taking
flight, he
escaped by sea
and Dees pire
stoned to dea
384 Py iis knights.
388
596
Xanthippus cast into the Sea and drowned [BK. Vv
Fauht with hym, & made hym for to flee,
Vpon the watir; [&] anon aftir he
Was of his knihtes stoned to the deth,
And so constreyned he yald up the breth. 392
[Off the Duk zantipus/ cast in to see. |!
After Hannibal FFTIR that Hanybal was slay[e]n thus
was slain, Duke
Xanthippus of
Sparta appeared.
He helped
Carthage again
Rome and
captured
And put to flih[t], as maad is mencioun,
Tofor Bochas cam worthi Zantipus,
A famous duk, ful notable off renoun. 396
And he was lord of the strong regioun
Lacedemoyn, & was com from a-ferre
Into Cartage to help hem in the werre.
Bi whos prowesse, to his encres of glorie, 400
“The proud[e] Romeyns wer put to the fliht;
Marcus Regulus. Cartagynensis hadde of them victorie.
And ther was take the wise manli kniht
Marchus Regulus, & brouht anon riht 4°4
Into Cartage, & lad as prisoneer
Bi Zantipus, as Bochas writeth heer.
But for all his “This noble duk, for al his hih prowessis
high prowess,
the
Carthaginians
envied him an
cast him into
the sea when
Doon in Cartage & shewed to ther toun, 408
a And for al his notable kyndenessis,
Thei most vnkyndeli quit hym his guerdoun;
he sailed home For sailyng hom toward his regioun,
in one of their
ips.
Yet his name
will remain in
the House of
Fame always.
In a shipp stufhid of ther contre, 412
Of fals envie thei cast hym in the se.
To his noblesse and famous cheualrie,
Whan he of knihthod sat hiest in his flours,
Thei of Cartage of* hatreede & envie #16
Maligned ageyn hym, cheeff sonne of ther socours,
Taclipsed his lih[t]: but therageyn auctours
Han be writyng perpetueli set his name
And it registred in the Hous of Fame. 420
393. slayen] I slayn R 3, yslain P, Islayn H 5.
394. : ist HS ;
398. com] commen H.
that H —the] om. H.
e B, Hs, bi J, R 3, by P.
~1MS, J. leaf 107 recto.
413. thei
416. of ]
BK. Vv] The Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus
597
[How Marchus Regulus, of his fre wil deied for
the comon wele. | !
HO can reherse or telle* the ground of
WeITIs,
The firste cause of such mortal outrage* —
Wher it began bynfluence of sterris
Tween man and man, or of wilful rage,
As atween Romeyns & folkis of Cartage,
To gret hyndryng, considered the maneere,
Of bothe parties, as bookis doth us lere.
Italiens therwith wer greued ofte,
Namli whan Fortune was ther aduersarie.
And Affrican[e]s felte ful vnsofte,
Whan she to them list to be contrarie, —
Whos cours of custum stoundemeel doth varie,
Bexperience it hath be preued weel,
In the ouerwhelmyng of hir vntrusti wheel.
The moste worthi & the moste famous,
Afforn remembrid upon ech partie,
Fortune to-day made hem victorious,
And to-morwe she dede ther myht deffie.
Now up, now doun; al stood in iupartie,
Lik as she list them fauoure, nih or ferre,
Ther losse, ther wynnyng callid fortune of werre.
To summe weelwillid, happi & eurous,
To summe also ful straunge of aqueyntaunce;
Rekne among othir Marcus Regulus,
On Romeyn parti a prince of gret substaunce,
To be preferrid & put in remembraunce,
Oon the most worthi & trewe founde in deede
Of knihtli policie that I can of reede.
To comoun profhit was ay his aduertence,
Tween loue & hate stondyng so vpmht,
To nouther side declyned the ballaunce
Of his doomys, for fauour of no wiht,
Til that the ete off his inward siht
Conceyued hadde wher the trouthe stood:
Than gaff he sentence; & theron he abood.
Who can tell
why wars first
began? Was it
[p. 264] by the influence
the stars or
the wilful rage
of man?
424
Both the
428 Italians and the
ricans
suffered from
the variance of
Fortune,
432
to-day
victorious,
43 to-morrow
vanquished.
440
Marcus
Regulus, a
great Roman
prince,
448
was one of
the most just
and upright
of men.
452
421. reherse or telle] telle or Reherse B. 422. outrages B.
427. doth] don H, R 3.
1 MS. J. leaf 107 recto.
598 The Herotsm and Death of Marcus Regulus (BK. Vv
In all this In al this world ther was no bettir kniht, 456
ratpobetter Bettir named & born of good lynage,
we Oi oa A semli persone, delyuer & of gret myht,
of great Hardi as leoun, nht manli off visage,
strength. Wal of the Romeyns, sharp yerd to Cartage, 460
Demure, nat hasti, seyng al thyng toforn;
And in Papynia I fynde that he was born.
For his discre- And for he hadde so gret discrecioun,
tion he was
chosen consul, This worthi kniht, this Marcus Regulus, 464
Chosen he was a consul of the toun,
And hadde a felawe callid Manlius,
In armys manli, wis and vertuous.
Which for ther expert notable* hih constaunce 468
Of Romeyn werris hadde the gouernaunce.
and together Ther shippis stuffed, maad a gret arme,
with Manlius
he defeated Fy] prudentli with knihtli apparaille
tad Hamil, Thes princis tweyne taken han the se; 472
Carthage, First with Sicilians hadde a gret bataille, ;
Discounfited hem, & at ther arryuaille
Outraied Amulchar, the stori is no fable,
That was of Affrik capteyn & constable. 476
ernie ato’ Gat in that contre castellis many on,
many prisoners Took prisoneres, stuff & gret richesse;
And al that pray* to Roome he sente anon
Bi Manlius, the stori berth witnesse. 480
And the Romeyns for his worthynesse,
Alle of assent, because he was so wis,
Prolongid han the terme off his offis.
eae ie Off knihtli noblesse was non onto hym lik, 484
in Knighthood; Nouthir in armys nor politik ordenaunce;
and he
governor of | And for the conquest off Cartage & Affrik,
Carthage. To hym thei gaff of bothe the gouernaunce.
Brouht citees, toun[e]s to the obeissaunce* 488
Of the Romeyns, this noble worthi kniht,
Wher-euer he rood, maugre ther foos myht.
ail the tear Be his feithful laborious dilligence
bo
aaa a Gat al the contres to Cartage toun, 492
456. al]om.H. 468. notable expert B, J, R 4 P
477. that] be H. 479. pray] parti_B, partie
484. R begins again bere. 487. the] om. H.
488. the obeissaunce] his obeissaunce B, R R, J.
493. vnto] to H. .
BK. Vv] The Herotsm and Death of Marcus Regulus 599
Til tidyngis cam vnto his presence, and killed a
horrible serpent
Beside a ryuer ther was a gret dragoun,
So hornble, as maad is mencioun,
That al the contre of hym stood in such doute, 496
No man durste nethhe hym ferre aboute.
An hundred feet & tueyne was his lengthe, Se he
Lik as writeth Titus Lyuyus. two feet long.
Was non so hardi, nor no man* of such strengthe soo
That durste approche; he was so venymous.
But bi the manhod of Marchus Regulus
Islay[e]n was this monstruous serpent,
And for a merueil the skyn to Rome sent. 504
Thus in conquest whil he dede his peyne _—[p. 265] He2!™, ,.
To gete castellis & myhti stronge touns, two Hasdrubals
Geyn hym wer sent Astruballis tweyne,
Callid of Affrik the hardi champiouns, 508
With al the poweer of ther regiouns.
But as the stori maketh rehersaile,
Thei wer discounfited bothen in bataile.
Amulchar aftir cam with spere & sheeld srg ant Hamilcar
In diffence of Affrik & Cartage;
And he was also distrussed in the feeld
With al his host{e], maugre his visage.
Thus Marchus hadde alway thauauntage, 516
Makyng the Romeyns, this kniht most vertuous,
Thoruh hih* prowesse to be victorious.
And wher that he in his tendre age os
List to laboure & tile his owne lond, $26 us own land,
For exercise & vertuous auauntage rode through
To holde the plouh & leede it with his hond, in bright steel.
Auoidyng slouthe, as ye shal vndirstond, —
Now thoruh al Affrik with many worthi kniht — 524
He rideth armed in steel & mailles briht.
496. stood R.
498. Hoot H.
500. so] om. H, R—nor no man] man nor B, R, J.
503. was] as R.
506. gete t R.
507. hastruballis H.
510. the] ther H.
512. Amiulchar P.
514. distrussed ] ene J, distressed P.
518. hih] his B, R, J, P. 522. leede] losne H.
525] In steel and mailes he rideth armed bright J, P-~ maile H.
600 The Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus [BK.v
And whenever This noble Mark, what-euer he hadde ado,
e fought he
was victorious. He was in armys soueryn synguleer;
of laurel and And in the temple at Rome of Appollo
victory ‘ee For hym was kept a crowne of fressh laureer,
pect ace Forgid of gold, fret ful of stonis cleer:
him in Rome.
The laurel, § And in the temple of Iouis was reserued
which never
fades, is granted A robe of victorie, which he hath disserued.
to conquerors;
To these goddis, who can considre weel,
Of old custum ther rihtis to meynteene,
As for a thyng beyng perpetuel,
Which fadeth neuere of nature, thus I meene,
Isacrid is the fressh[e] laureer greene:
For causis tweyne grauntid to conquerours,
In marcial actis bi conquest maad victours.
for it betokens For the noblesse of this tre dyuyne
perseverance in Sheweth [bi] his odour in wisdam excellence;
artue, and Bi the grenzesse, which neuer doth declyne,
Long abidyng of vertuous prudence;
The rounde crowne betokneth prouidence,
In signe onli, al knihtli gouernaunce
Taketh his guerdoun of long contynuaunce.
§28
532
536
Their strength Ther strengthe onli graunteth hem nat the crowne,
alone does not
entitle them to Nor a proud gynnyng stablissheth nat per glorie, 548
a crown, nor
does a proud But perseueraunce, who list muse or* rowne,
esublsketheir Graunteth to them & putteth in memorie
glory. The triumphe & palme of ther victorie,
The crowne of laureer, in stori it is told,
And of Iubiter the riche robe of gold.
Thus Regulus Who can disserne, of alle thes giftes thre,
by the Romans, Most apparteneth onto cheualrie,
Manli prowesse, wisdam, anon lat see,
Strengthe, hardynesse, conquest, policie? —
For the Romeyns kauhte a fantasie,
For his meritis notable & glorious
To magnefie this Marcus Regulus.
526. ado] to do R.
532. robe] robbe H.
541. bi] om. J — excellence] & excellence R, J.
548. begynnyng H.
549. or] & B, R.
554. disserne] discern H, discerne J, R 3, descerne P.
553
556
560
BK.V] Tbe Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus 601
For this Marcus duryng his lusti yeeris pare at i
Prynce of the werris geyn Affrik & Cartage, oh souaes
Took alle ther yonge knihtis prisoneeris, pants ot
Sent hem to Rome for comoun auauntage. 564 prisoner.
But O, alas! whan he was falle in age,
The geri goddesse, among hir chaunges alle,
Ageyn this prince hir fauour made appalle.
For to withstonde the prowesse of this kniht, 568 But when he
In helpe of Affrik, as maad is mencioun, Keri a
Cam Zantipus, of whom I spak now mht, in battle
A myhti duk, the which[e] was sent doun
Fro Lacedemoyn; which thoruh his hih renoun, 572
Whan the poweer of Marchus gar to faille,
His mene slay[e]n, took hym in bataille,—
Into Cartage sent hym prisoneer; int oeapch pee
And ther he lay in stronge cheynys bounde. 570 eee. Suche
Loo, how Fortune chaunge can hir cheer, Fortune:
Falsest of trust whan she is most iocounde;
First fauourable, aftir froward founde:
This hir maner with hir double face, 580
Folk that sit hiest to chaunge hem fro ther place.
For he that whilom hadde in subieccioun prea iene
Almost al Affrik, & Cartage the cite, mate toaauct
Now lith he bounde & fetrid in prisoun, 584
Whilom in glorie, now in aduersite,
Cast in miserie from hih prosperite.
Fortunis fauours be maad, who looke weel,
Of brotel glas rather than of steel. 588
This manli kniht, al-be that he lay cheyned, [p. 266] RepuicSwas
Which had brouht Rome to so hih encres, sean te
That thei of Affrik & Cartage wer constreyned were Cone
Vnto the Romeyns to pursue for a pes; 592 the Romans for
And for tacomplisshe this mateer dout[elles, a ena
Vndir assuraunce made in Cartage toun,
Thei took[e] Marcus anon out of prisoun.
Bounde bi his oth, ther is no mor to seyn, 596 2nd they sent
him to
He to be chaungid for Affrik prisoneris; . Rove ood
Ther for tabide, & thei to come ageyn, exchanged for
The yonge knihtis, fressh lusti of ther cheeris. knights.
563. ther] the R. 580. 1st hir] his R.
590. to] vp to H, R 3.
602
The Romans
valued him more
So that Marchus, feeble & old of yeeris,
Bi Affrican[e]s was to Rome sent,
Bi oth assured, tacomplisshe ther entent.
For the Romeyns hadde in such deynte
than all their “This noble Mark for manhod & prudence,
prisoners of
Carthage,
and rejoiced at
his deliverance.
Received with
cries of welcome,
and presented
.to the Senate,
he said:
“Sirs, I was
sent as prince
and consul to
Africa. Seven
ears have I
een there
chastising the
rebels of that
country.
“T am now
rown old.
ortune is no
longer favour-
able to me;
and the people
And for the foorthryng of ther comourte,
The: hadde his persone for wisdam in reuerence,
Cald of that toun ther wal & ther diffence,
Hadde in mor cheerte for knyhthod in that age
Than al ther prisoneris of Affrik & Cartage.
Romeyns gretli reioisshed of his comyng,
And specialli for his delyueraunce;
Alle attonis, of herte & trewe menyng,
Saide, “‘wolcom hom, our ioie, our* suffisaunce,
Wolcome, merour of knihtli gouernaunce!’’
This was ther vois & this was ther langage
At his repair from Affrik & Cartage.
And thus resceyued lik to his estat
And conveied thoruh al the cite,
Nobli presentid up to the senat,
Began his tale, anon as ye shal see,
As he that hadde mor in cheer[i]te
The comoun proffit than his delyueraunce,
Saide onto them these woordes in substaunce:
“Sires, be thauys of you echon present,
First bi thestatis, next bi the comounte,
As prince & consul to Affrik I was sent;
And, as ye knowe, seuene yeer I haue ther be
To chastise rebellis of that contre,
And bi the fauour & helpe of Goddis myht,
To your cite aquit me lik a kniht.
In this mateer it needeth nat to tarie,
Ye knowe yoursilff I am now wexen old,
And Fortune 1s to me contrarie,
of Carthage wish Wherbi your enmyes in Affrik be maad bold.
me to
in exchange ie
your prisoners.
And thei desire me for to be sold
In eschaung, bi short conclusioun,
For prisoneres which ye* haue in the toun.
609. ther]
612. trewe rH R3,H5. 613. our] & our B, R, J.
627. And] om. H — [ haue ace there I haue P.
637. ye] thei B, H, R, J, R 3 — the] pis H, Die R 3, P.
The Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus [BK. v
600
608
612
616
620
624
628
632
636
BK. Vv] Tbe Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus 603
And bi the fauour of goddis hih in heuene,
And bi my felawes wis mediacioun,
Contrees, provynces, mo than sixe or seuene 640
I haue in Affrik maad subiect to this toun,
Maugre ther myht & ther rebelliouz,
And them constreyned, lik as ye desire,
For tobeie vnto your empire. 644
To make your lordship* mor statli glorious, Berea ry
And tencrece the boundis of your cite, mcenouy Put
Whilom bi grace I was victorious, prisoner of war.
Venquisshed your enmyes wher-euer I dede hem
see; : 648
Now thoruh Fortunis mutabilite
Maad vnhappi & desolat of cheer, —
Sumtyme a prince & now a prisoneer.
Afforn, my poweer bi Fortune was fraunchised, 652 , My former
Now am I thrall & fetrid in prisoun; pesllerte
Mypn olde triumphes be neweli now disguised, borne down, my
And [my] victories oppressid & bor doun. ia
With this considered the transmutacioun 656.
Of youthe passid & myn vnweeldi age,
Litil wonder thouh dul be my corage.
“Yet it cheers
Yit ther is a thyng that draweth along my lyff, Reged Naa
Which in myn herte hath sette gret gladnesse: — 660 that through
my labour you
To your encres how in this mortal striff have the best
° . PS nights of
Bi my labour & knihtli bisynesse Africa in your
e e e e 80 .
The marcial princis, famous in worthynesse, a
With al the knihtis most soueryn of renoun 664
Souht thoruh Affrik, be now in your prisoun.
Bi whos absence feeblid is Cartage; which wearens
The contre porisshed, brouht to disencres. pkey 20.
Seyng that I am dul and falle in age 668 them back again
Geyn Affricans to put my-silff in pres, erg te
Causyng your enmyes [to] pursue for the pes
Beschaung of me, that may but smal auaile,
For Affrik knihtis most expert in bataille. 672
641. this] his R.
645. lordship] Empire B, R, J.
655. &] an R.
659. a thynea nothir H, R 3 — that] om. J — along] alength P.
0 R
71. of] for H, R 3.
672. neat] pe Affrik H, baffrike R 3, the Auffryk H s.
604 The Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus [BK. v
so that they ‘Thei stonde in hope of ther delyueraunce _—[p. 267]
anew wat Beschaung of me, now sent out of prisoun,
on your “Of entent tencrecen ther puissaunce,
Of newe to gynne a werre upon your toun. 676
Now taketh good heed, & of discrecioun
Peiseth of prudence this thyng that I haue told,
Ther youthe considred, & I am feeble & old.
veo fee I am consumyd & wered in the werris; 680
lusty and freech; Fortune contrarie, I feeble to bere armure:
The: lusti fressh, ther name spredde ful ferr is,
And in the feeld thei able to endure.
I vnweldi, & lik a creature 684
Mor sembl{ablJe to drawe hom to my graue,
Than to be armyd this cite for to saue.
and T am more And in effect, I haue mor cheer|i]te,
anxious for the
profit of your Of verray feith withoute variaunce, 688
commonwealth
than for my Wnto the profhit of your comounte
own deliverance. Than to the mateer of my delyueraunce;
Too thynges peised & weied in ballaunce:
Of Affrik knyhtis thexpert worthynesse, 692
In me the constreynt off agis feebilnesse.
“I cannot do. And to conclude upon this mateer,
better than die
for the a I myhte neuere, as semeth onto me,
<nmey As of knihthod disseruen the laureer 696
Nor the tryumphe in this famous cite,
Bet than deie tencrece the comounte,
And thus auised, of herte & hool corage
Yeld up the sperit of myn vnweeldi age.” 700
Fersevering in. In this purpos, he, stedfast as a wall,
is intention,
Of o will and oon perseueraunce,
Hymsailff comendyng to goddis inmortall,
Ches for to deie off politik constaunce, 704
And to preferre bi notable purueyaunce
The comoun profit: this was his motiff, —
Set aside good, tresour and his lyff.
he returned to. Riht weel cheerid, stable of his visage, 708
arthage a
prisoner. Of parfit loue he hadde onto the toun,
He 1s repaired ageyn onto Cartage,
676. newe] now R. 677. taketh] take H.
682. name] fame H, R 3, H s.
685. semblable ] gcenibiy: R.
702. oon}o H. 710. onto] in to H.
BK.V] be Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus 605
Tharticles kept and the condicioun
At the departyng from Affrik regioun:
This to seyne, texpleite ther lust certeyne,
Or prisoneer he to resorte ageyn.
At his departyng the Romeyn senatours
Gan wexe pale off compassioun,
To seen the pauys of al ther old socours
As prisoneer departe out of the toun.
Princessis, ladies fill a-swowne doun;
Childre wepte & cried for pite,
“‘Farweel upholdere, cheeff wal of our* cite
Was euer founde any trewer kniht?
Which of his owne feithful mociouz,
Wher he was free, & poweer hadde & myht,
Taue stonde at large bi his eleccioun,
To keepe his promis repaired to prisoun!
What shal I write of his noblesse or shewe ? —
To fynde oon lik hym, I reede but of a fewe!
And whan he cam ageyn with his massage,
Knowyng thentent of this worthi knyht,
Most furiousli the peeple of Cartage,
In the presence of euery maner wiht,
Ordeyned han a torment anon riht.
First the liddis of his eien tweyne,
Thei kutte hem of to encrece his peyne,
That he nat sholde slepen in prisoun,
But euer wachche with peyne intollerable,
And for the constreynt of his passioun
Crie & compleyne with sihhis lamentable.
And aftir this, thei token a pleyn table,
Fret ful of nailles sharp[e] whet & grounde,*
And therupon naked thei hym bounde.
Another table thei leide on hym aloffte,
Nailed also; and atween thes tweyne
Thei couchid hym; his* bed was ful vnsoffte,
Most importable, so hidous was the peyne;
The blood ran out of eueri senew & veyne.
This was his torment, alas, a cruel deth! —
Of worthi Marchus til he yald up the breth.
mir. tharticle H. 712. At] And R.
728. reede but of] fynde but P—o
729. this H. = 741. grounde] rounde B, R, J.
745. he this B, R, 5; R 3, P.
1?
712
At his departure
ne Roman
nators grew
716 pale with
compassion,
Pudies tal and
dies fell down
720
Never was there
a truer knight.
724
728
The people of
Carthage,
furious in their
disappointment,
tortured him
by cutting off
732 his eyelids,
and bound him
730 naked to a
table studded,
with sharp
nails,
740
beneath another
sari ae
and let him
744 lie there till
he died.
748
ane our] ther B, J, R
606 The Heroism and Death of Marcus Regulus
Who ever read Who radde in bookes or euer dede see
steadfast prince? Qf any princis so stedfast & so stable
As whilom wern in Rome the cite,
Or in ther conquest so longe perdurable,
On vertu foundid, of corage vnchaungable!
Rekne up alle that euer wer in that toun,
And to this Marchus mak no comparisoun.
Re | 3 e e e
AiR he glory Rekne Kamylles, Papires, Scipiouns,
of the Camilli, “Notable worthi for many gret victorie;
apInt Say ee -s °
of Curtius and Rekne up alle ther othir* champiouns,
Fabricius, ‘ ‘
Cursius, Fabricus famous of memorie.
But this Regulus eclipseth al ther glorie
And surmounteth, bi report of renoun,
Al thes forsaide in comparisoun.
[BK. v
7$2
of the rich ~~ Rekne up the foure that whilom wer so riche, 764
Lucius, Scaurus, ‘ °
Caius Delius, The firste of them callid Lucius,
oe Other tweyne of condiciouz liche,
As was Scavrus & Gayus Delius;
And forget nat the grete Emelius, —
But for al ther gret pocessioun,
Make to Marchus no comparisoun.
and Crassus, Remembre on Crassus, of whom it is told,
whose throat
the Assyrians The Assiriens to staunche his couetise
poured full of
molten gold. Pored in his throte, strangled hym with gold;
So he deide, the stori doth deuise.
And thouh thes foure wendyn ha be wise,
Gretli comendid thoruh fals oppynyoun,
Of them to Marchus mak no comparisoun.
He left his | Touchyng this Mark, lat men beholde & see:
freedom and
wealth behind He leffte his tresour, his fredam & richesse,
him and die
for the welfare And for the profht of the comounte
of his country.
To foorthre his toun deied in distresse,
To keepe his feith resorted to prisoun, —
Mak of non othir to hym comparisoun.
752. in] in the R.
759. othir] worthi B, R, J.
762. of }& H, R Hi 5.
766. condiciouns H.
771, 72 are transposed in R.
771. on] of R.
Forsook his freendis, Bochas berth witnesse;
776
780
784
eee eee i
— a
BK. Vv | An Envoy on Marcus Regulus
Myn auctour heer put in remembraunce
Summe that hadde gold, stonis & perre,
Summe that hadde of richesse habundaunce,
And of othir that stood in dignite,
And summe that hadde worldli prosperite, —
Set al aside, & conclude on resoun,
Tween them & Marchus is no comparisouz.
Princis may lyue aftir ther ententis,
Aftir ther lustis, after ther delices,
Of gold & purpure were riche garnementis,
Aftir ther poweer frowardli in vices,
Graunte ther mynistris in cites gret offices, —
Tween al ther pompe & veyn ambicioun
And atween Mark mak no comparisoun.
Alle these thynges remembred in certeyn,
Weel considred & Iput in mynde,
Ther wer* in Rome but fewe such[e] seyn,
To comoun profhit that founde wer* so kynde.
And, til I may such another fynde
In al this book{e], turnyng up-so-doun,
I will to hym make no comparisoun.
CLenvoye.]
HIS tragedie, who pat can take heede,
Is entermedlid with wo & gladnesse:
Ioie for [the] worshep & synguler manhede
That was in Mark bi excellent noblesse;
To reede his fall it is gret heuynesse,
Which ches to deie, wher-as he stood[e] fre,
Onli for profht of the comounte.
To keepe his oth, pleynli, as I reede,
Maad in Cartage, ther beyng in distresse,
This noble prince constreyned off no neede,
But of fre will, myn auctour doth expresse,
Fro Rome ageyn[e] thidir gan hym dresse
To suffre torment, off his free volunte,
Onli for profit of the comounte.
790. aside|on side H. 801. wer] was B, &, J, P.
786. perre| peerle H. 789. ‘mil H, R
802. wer] was, B, R, J. 808. the] om. R.
607
Some on had
great riches;
others stood in
high dignity, or
in worldly
rosperity.
788 Make no
comparison
between them
and Marcus.
Princes may live
792 according to
their desires and
wear rich
garments of
d and purple;
at between a
their pomp an
796 vain ambition
and Marcus
make no
comparison.
Nor will I do
so until I find
800 another such.
In this . dy
are mi re)
for thewanhood
of eer and
sorrow for
808 his fall.
812
Of his own free
will he chose to
die for the
profit of the
community.
816
608 The odious Tyrant Ptolemy Philopator [[BK. v
His story should This stori sholde crowned been in deede 820
crowned with
golden letters, With golden lettres, for to bern witnesse,
How [the] seid Mark, hauyng of deth no dreede,
To sette Rome fro werre in sekirnesse, —
Whos hih renouz, most souereyn of prowesse, 824
May neuer eclipse bi non antiquite,
Which ches to deie to foorthre the comounte.
and he deserved He disserued for to han the meede
the reward of
triumph, the Qf tryumphe and marcial worthynesse, 828
garment of * °
purple fret with And of Iubiter to were the purpil weede,
precious stones
and the laureate Fret ful of stonis, most heuenli of brihtnesse,
voor ‘The laureat crown conseruyng his grennesse,
Graunted to victours, who list considre & see, — 832
Which ches to deie to foorthre the comounte.
Noble Princes Noble Princis, which that gouerne & leede
peopie of this , Al worldli peeple, taketh heed in your hyhnesse
to this story, 1 1 i
tot this sey To this stori, trewe as is the creede, 836
betoyoua Takyng exaumple, doth your bisynesse
ree Ay to supporte & meynteene rihtwisnesse,
And lat Marchus to you a merour be,
Which ches to deie to foorthre the comounte. 840
[How Tholome kyng of Egipt callid Philopater slouh
fader & moder & his wif in lechery spende his
lif & mischeuesly ended. ] !
poe EXT to Bochas in ordre compleynyng, [p. 269]
Ae rR lon Vicious of lyff, ther cam Tholome
er cee Cald Philopater, & was of Egipt kyng.
complaining to In tendre age borrible cruelte 844
oe Slouh fader, mooder & suster, ye may see,
He to be crownid, it is maad mencioun,
To regne allone in that regeoun.
fie was inclined He was disposed onto eueri vice, 848
pi egos rela roward to vertu & to al doctryne,
his youth in Slouh his wiff callid Erudice,
riot and outrage. ‘
Lefft his spouse, took a concubyne,
Wasted his lyff, gan hymsilf enclyne 852
To al riot, surfet & outrage;
And in this wise he spent his yonge age.
822. the] om. J.
841. in ordre to Bochas R 3, P. 843. &] that P, Hs.
844: borrible] horrible R, bi horrible H, J, R 3, be horryble,
5, by horrible P. 848. onto]toH. 850. Euridice P.
1 MS. J. leaf 109 recto.
BK.vV|] he Wars of Britomaris and the Romans 609
Thus was disclaundred his roial mageste,
In lecherous lustis wachched al [the] niht,
A-bedde til noon, ageyn al honeste,
Of fals excesse shoop hym anon riht,
Whan he aroos, to drynke* ageyn[e]s myht
Gorge upon gorge tafforce his lecherie.
The longe day he spente in glotonye.
I wexe weri the processe for to write
Of this tiraunt, vicious and wood.
It is contagious the processe to endite,
Because thexaumple doth harm & no good.
And of vengaunce thus with hym it stood:
Of sodeyn myscheeff I reede he dide fyne,
Enbracid in armys of his concubyne.
Agothodia pleynli was hir name,
And hadde a sone callid Agathodes,
Vicious bothe & sclaundrid bi diffame,
Noised by report, thei wer so rek[elles.
Bothe attonis take in a sodeyn pres,
With ther allies alle attonis fett,
And bi iust doom lad to the gibett.
Phlengee re
ery A e lay
noo: ry
856 sbed and stuffed rey
drank until
night to fortify
his lust.
860
It is tiresome
and odious to
write about
this tyrant.
864 His rap
rm and
his _concabing,
h d he rie
8 ae and her
868 son and all
their kin were
afterwards
hanged.
872
[How Abithomarus & viridomarus dukis of Fraunce,
aftir grete batailes bi Romayns were slayn. | !
EXT Philopater, callid Tholome,
Per cam in ordre a worthi duk of Fraunce,
Abitomarus; & out of that contre
Rood into Grece with a gret puissaunce.
And first he gan to make his ordenaunce
Ageyn Romeyzf{e]s, al-be thei wer ferre,
Proudli with them for to gynne a werre.
But thei of Rome to ther confusioun,
Bi ther bisshoppis & preestis gan deuise
To vse a cursid fals supersticioun:
Vnto ther goddis in ful cruel wise
To offre up men banewe sacrefise,
856. the] om. R
859. drynken B. "868. En bracyng in be Armys
869. Agathodia J, Agathoclea Pp O74. alle] both H.
878. Britomarus P.
885. fals cursid H, R3. 887. banewe] bi newe R.
1 MS. J. leaf 109 verso.
After Ptolem
876 Philopator
came
Britomaris,
who rode from
France into
Greece and
made war on
880 R Rome.
The Romans
had a ae
custom o
884 burying people
alive as an
offering to their
gods,
610 Tbe Wars of Britomaris and the Romans ([BK. Vv
And* burie hem quyk, in Bochas thus I reede, _ 888
Bi a fals hope thei better for to speede.
and now they Of Fraunse & Grece thei took[e] ten in noumbre,
French and = Halff men & women, togidre tweyne & tweyne;
mevand ve And bi fals moordre thei dede hem encoumbre, 82
sacrificed them; Buried hem quik — ther deth was ful sodeyne.
were angry. “At this sacrefise the goddis gan disdeyne,
And to the Romeyns wex contrarious
For ther fals rihtis supersticious. 896
In thie year, And bi record of olde cronicleres,
oundation, The yeer fyue hundred fro ther fundacioun
porereed by And on & twenti, tho beyng consuleris
Thre in noumbre, as maad is mencioun, goo
Which gouernyd & reuled al the toun.
The firste callid Lucius Emylius,
And the secounde Catulus Gaius,
Swgued by Attilius Regulus the thridde consuleer. 904
the Sgaare to | Bi al the senat ordeyned wer thes thre,
As I haue told, the silue same yeer
For to gouerne & reule ther cite,
And to preserue hem from al aduersite 908
Ageyn too peeplis, of Gaule & Lumbardie,
Which than werreied of malis & envie.
But there were Of which[e] werre the Romeyns stood in doute,
Lombards and The senatours & alle the citeseyns, 912
foreigners, Because ageyn them ther cam so gret a route
Of Lumbardis bi this halff the mounteyns,
Ioyned togidre with many fell foreyns,
Which stood departid, as maad is remembraunce, 916
Fro them of Rome & fro ther obeissaunce.
barbarous and The peeple rud[e], bestial & vnstable,
vnreasoable Togidre assemblid, wood & furious,
Of multitude verray innumerable, 920
Vengable of herte, of corage despitous,
Void of al resoun, sodenli furious,
As seith Bochas, I can no ferther gon; —
Ther soudiours bar gisarmys euericfon. 924
889. thei the R 3, 5 P. 894. At] AER.
896. ther] the R.
903. Catalus Caius P. 907. reule] om. R. 908. fro H.
912. 2nd the] ther H.
888. ch] To B, R, J, P—thus] as H, R
BK.v] The Wars of Britomarts and the Romans 611
And Gisarmes of Gisarme* thei wer callid, [p. 270] Rowtae * 100d
Toward Rome them hastyng day be day,
Of gret labour the footmen sore appallid;
But al* ther trust on multitude lay.
Of whos komyng Roome stood in affray,
And specialli the consuleris thre,
That out wer sent to fihte for the cite.
Foure score thousand, as writ the cronycleer,
Mihti [men] to stonden at diffence,
In his felasheepe hadde ech consuleer.
And of the Gysarme3 noumbred in sentence,
Thre hundred thousand, bi sturdi violence
Goyng on foote, I fynde that thei hadde,
Eihte thousand ouer, that al the feeldis spradde.
I rekne nat them that rood on hors[e]bak,
Which sexe & thretti thousand wer in noumbre,
Sixe hundred ouer, purposed for the wrak,
Fynalli the Romeyns to encoumbre.
The shadwe of them gaff so gret an oumbre,
That on the soil, which afforn was greene,
Ther was vnnethe any sonze seene.*
Ther capteyn was Abithomarus,
A manli man & a ful worthi kniht.
And with hem wente Virydomarus,
A-nother capteyn, in steel armyd briht.
Tween them and Romeyns longe laste the fiht;
But on the parti of Rome the cite
Was slayn a consul that was oon of the thre.
Aftir whos deth, of fortune anon mht,
On the parti of them of Rome touz
Eihte* hundred thousand took hem to the fliht.
And thus began the fame & the renoun
Of Abithomarus, as maad is menciour,
Of which victorie his herte was maad fayn.
And on his parti wer thre thousand slayn.
925. Gisarme ne B, R, J, P
928. alla
in great
928
Although each
932 consul had an
army of four
score thousand
men, they were
outnumbered by
their enemies.
936
who covered
ane caret with
their shadow,
940 and were led b
Britomaris an
Viridomarus.
952
In the battle
one consul was
slain, and
800,000 of the
Romane fled.
956
933. men om MSS., P. 934. consuleer] a Consuler H.
935. the] om. H, R 3 "— number P. 941. hundreth R.
944. wich H. 945. seene] sheene B, R, J, shene P.
947. worthi] manly H. 952. the] om
955. Eihte] viij B, One P. 957. Britomarus P.
612 The Defeat and Death of Britomaris [BK. Vv
Then the ..q But the Romeyns resorted been ageyn; 960
aad See And aftir that hadde a strong bataille.
Gisarme And in the feeld so manli thei wer seyn,
And so proudli ther enmyes dide assaille,
That, as myn auctour mak[e]th rehersaille, 964
Of the Gisarmes, longe or it was niht,
Fourti thousand wer slayn in that fiht.
They fought The thridde tyme, with helpe of them of France
beside the the § Joyned to Lombardes & folk of Gaule also, 968
Thei fauht ageyn, al out off ordenaunce,
Beside the ryuer that callid is the Poo,
Wher bothe batailles togidre hadde adoo.
And, as I fynde, consuleris tweyne 972
The pone sheltrouns knihtli did ordeyne.
by Manlius, Flamynus Flakkus was with hym ifecne:
Flaminiue “ And with the Romeyns togidre forth* thei gon —_ 976
accus, slew
49,000 of their Toward that ryuer with a ful manli cheere;
eaten In which bataille, the stori doth vs lere,
Nyne and fourti thousand slayn on that day
Of ther enmyes, that non ne wente away. 980
Britomaris was’ Abithomarus was take prisoneer,
made prisoner
Cepia to the In tokne of tryumphe brouht to Rome tour,
chains. To the Capitoile, with a ful pale cheer,
Lad bounde in cheynis, ther geyned no raunsoun: 984
Thus hath Fortune appallid his hih renouz.
And in tokne of his disconfiture,
Offrid to goddis was his cote armure.
Atropos broke Thus Lachesis his lyues threed gan drawe 988
Vitidernaruswas J! Antropos it brak with ful gret peyne.
dain in the Viridomarus, that was his fellawe,
Slayn in the feeld bi Romeyns in certeyne.
And of thes [noble] worthi princis tweyne, 992
This was the eende & the mortal fall,
The feeste accomplisshed callid funerall.
973. The] To R. 974. the] bat H.
975. Flamynus] Flamyn
976. togidre forth] pairs togidre i Ea — forth] forsooth R.
977. that] be H — ful] om. H. . In] IH.
981. Britomarus P — taken
988. His lives threde thus Lachesis H, R é H s.
989. ful] om. H. 992. noble] om. MSS., P.
BK.v] Jt was a Time of uncouth Signs and Tokens
And in the tyme of thes mortal werris
Atween thes dukes & them of Rome toun,
Many toknis wer shewed in the sterris,
Merueilous lihtnyngis fro the heuene doun,
And many an vnkouth constellacioun;
Sondri cometes dide in the walkyn appeere, —
Who seeth ther stories may the trouthe lere.
The water of Pitene, that renneth in Itaille,
Which in that contre is a famous flood,
The same hour & tyme of ther bataille,
As seith the stori, was turnid into blood.
Fires in the hair, most furious & wood,
That mihti tours wer with the flawmes brent;
Thre moonys appeeryng in the orient.
The peeple for feer fledde into lowe kauis, [p.
For dreed wex pale & dedli of ther cheer;
And in thre daies wer thre erthe-quauis.
Duryng thes werris and in the same yeer,
Of gret Appollo fill doun the pilleer
Of marbil whit, large and of gret strengthe,
That sexti cubitis acountid was the lengthe.
And in that tyme, the stori seith nat nay,
Of Rome a consul with a gret puissaunce,
Callid Claudius, slouh upon a day
613
At the time of
these mortal
wars many
strange tokens
were shewn in
the stars,
marvelous
lightnings,
comets and
uncout
1000 constellations.
The waters of
a river were
turned into
pices: bok;
urnt in
wet the air; and
three moons
were seen in the
east.
1008
The ple
271 fled for fear
into caves; for
in three days
there were
three earth-
uakes, and
the marble
pillar of great
Apollo f
down.
Io12
Claudius, a
consul, slew
30,000 Gauls
in battle;
1016
Thretti thousand, & brouht hem to myschaunce,
Of the soudiours that cam out of Fraunce.
And ther was slayn, with many a capteyn lorn,
Viridomarus, of whom I spak toforn.
To his gret shame and confusioun,
As it is remembred be scripture,
The Romeyns made a gret oblacioun
Vp to [ubiter of his cote armure.
And in tokne of his disconfiture,
Withynne that temple, of gold betyn cleer,
To his despiht thei heng up his baneer.
998. lihtenyng frome H.
1000. walk wakyn R.
1oor. ther] thes R — may] he may H, R 3.
1020. sae ther H — can} om. R.
1021. was] om. R— with] & H.
1020
and to the
piel aie
confusion
1024 the dead
Viridomarus, his
coat armour and
golden banner
were offered as
an oblation
1028 to Jove.
614 The Story of Syphax, King of Numidia [ BK. Vv
[How Siphax of Munedie kyng was take & deied
in prisoun. |!
step eee EER Bochas breeffli for a remembrance
of the war Writeth of welnis, debatis & batailes
Hannibal and That wer bat tyme in Itaille & France, 1032
worthy Scipio, Tn Spaigne, Chaumpayne, with marcial apparailles.
And among othir in his rehersailles,
He tellith in Affrik the gret[e] discencioun
Atween Hanybal & worthi Scipioun. 1036
eg ae en He touchith ther namys & abit nat longe;
of Numidia, | Vpon ther stories he bit nat but a while,
Heer nat rehersyng ther myhti werris stronge,
Nor of ther stryues he doth heer nat compile, _ 1040
But doun descendyng, directeth foorth his stile
For to reherse & telle be writyng
The fall of Siphax in Munedie kyng.
who defeated This said{e] Siphax batailles hadde tweyne, 1044
two btn Oon with kyng Gabba, [&] he of verray myht
Masinissa, Hadde eek another, in which he dede his peyne
flee obliged to To meete Masmyssa afftir anon riht.
country and = And bothe kynges he putte to the fliht. 1048
consort with
robbers and, And of Messulie, I fynde be writyng,
d beasts and
live on roots How Masmyssa was gouernour & kyng.
and fruit.
This said{e] Siphax thoruh his cheualrie
Maad Masmyssa to fleen his regioun, 1052
Constreynyng hym to lyue be robberie,
To walke in forestis with beestis up & doun.
And for diffaute, as maad is mencioun,
To saue his liff he fond no bet reffut, 1056
But fedde hymsilff on rootes & on frut.
Even his name Qut of his reum Masmyssa was enchaced,
was forgotten in :
hisown land. And constreyned to fleen from his contre;
Fro mynde of folk his name was out raced, 1060
For no man wiste wher he sholde be.
His liegemen & folk of his cite,
Thoruh al Affrik knew no bettir reed
Off his persone, but dempte that he was ded. _ 1064
1031. e om. J — bataill is
1032. &| & in H, R le apparaile H, R 3,H s.
1034. re ersaile H, re crsaill 1038. Ba om. R.
1040. heer nat] nat her H. a
1045. Gabba] Galba H, R 3, Gala P, Gable 5—& om.R, J.
1047. Masinissa P. 1049. Massile P. 1053. bej in R.
1 MS. J. leaf 110 recto.
BK. v |
Thus of kyng Siphax encrece gan the glonie,
Which bi force too kynges hath outraied,
And upon them wonnen the-victorie,
Put hem to fliht & the peeple affraied;
That Rome & Cartage wer of hym dismaied.
And ech of them dede ther labour
Of ther werris to make hym gouernour.
Vnto [this] Siphax, out of Rome touz,
As it is write for a memoriall,
To Numedie was sent Scipioun
For this mateer in especiall.
Out of Cartage was sent Hastruball;
And at the castell wher Siphax lay,
Bothe tweyne arryued at o day.
And be pleyn writyng as I haue conceyued,
And as the stori remembreth in sentence,
At ther comtyng bothe wer resceyued
Of kyng Siphax with gret[e] reuerence.
And thoruh his notable manli dilligence,
As it is Iwrityn be record,*
He made thes capteyns hertili of accord,
That thei togidre lay the same niht,
‘Thei hadde of Siphax so gret surete,
Be promys maad, as he was trewe kniht,
That nouther of them sholde deceyued be.
But ther was founde ful gret duplicite
Folwyng afftir, who-so can take heede,
Lik as this storie shal deuise in deede.
The Story of Syphax, King of Numidia 615
Thus the glory
of Syphax
increased; and
both Rome and
Carthage
sought to make
1068 him their
general.
From Rome
1072 Sci io was sent
1084
both were given
the same
promise.
1088
1092
But by the
For bi the fraude & falsnesse most mortall [p. 272] duplicity of
Hasdrubal,
Compassed befor[e]n, it is thus befalle,
That bi the sleihte of this Hastruball, —
As Affrican[e]s be nih double alle,
Vnder sugre can hide weel ther galle, —
So Hastruball bi fals decepcioun
Vnder fair cheer deceyued Scipioun.
He brouht in Siphax bi fals sotilte,
And bi his sleihti peynted fair langage,
That he sholde with hym allied bee,
Be ful assent to hauen in mariage
1066. hath] had R. 1072. ay R, J, P
1084. record] good record B, R P
1096, double nyh H, doubill nyh R 3.
1100. fals] his H, R 3, hys H 5.
1096
Syphax was
IIO0O promised
phonisba in
marriage, and
thereby induced
to side with
age.
616 Tbe Story of Syphax, King of Numidia (BK. Vv
Sophonisba, a maiden of Cartage, 1104
Which was douhtir, yong & fa{ijr withal,
As seith Bochas, to this Hastrubal.
aes The whichfe] thyng be crafft was brouht aboute
deceived. And acomplisshe[d] verraily in deede. 1108
And bi this mene, pleynli out of doute,
Ther first began rancour & hatreede,
Symulacioun, feynyng & falsheede,
That atween Siphax & Hastrubal, alas, 1112
Scipioun was deceyued in this caas.
And aftir that doon was this mariage,
After his a Bet
marriage Siphax ful enmy vnto* Sipiouz,
ax . e
and Hasdrubat With Hastrubal rood into Cartage 1116
made war on
the Romans; ANd gan werreie ageyn[e]s Roome tour.
And in this while, as maad is mencioun,
Kyng Masmyssa out of wildirnesse
Toward Scipioun in al haste gan hym dresse. 1120
and Masinissa, With his peeple gan to make hym strong
joc? Thoruh help of Scipioun & of Bellius,
Wente ageyn Siphax, & abood nat long,
His herte ageyn hym was so envious. 1124
And on a day, the stori tellith thus,
With Affricanys & folkis of Cartage,
Siphax the Romeyns mette in the visage.
helped him take Of Masmyssa the peeple wer so wood 1128
gengeance on ~W pon Siphax auengid for to bee,
was captured “Thoruh ther batailles cam to hym ther he stood,
And maugre hym and [al] his cruelte,
Of verray manhod — space was non to flee— 1132
Thei brouhte hym hom thoruh ther hih renoun
Into the handis of worthi Scipioun.
and led Siphax was take thus or he was war,
ome Wndir his baneer, maugre al his myht, 1136
And into Rome lad afforn the chaar
Off Scipioun, the noble worthi kniht,
That wan the tryumphe, grauntid hym of riht.
And Sophonisba, afforn to Siphax wiff, 1140
Weddid to Masmysse at theende of al this stniff.
1114. And] Anoon H, Anon R3. 1115. vnto]tothis B, R, J.
1116, into} in R
1122. 2nd of] om. H. 1127. mett pe Romayns H.
1128. wer] was R, H. 1130. bataile H
1131. al] om. R, J. 1141. Masmyssa H.
BK. Vv] Nabis, the Usurper of Macedonia 617
Loo, how Fortune chaunge can hir tides! Sophonisba then
To oon this day she can be fauourable, Masinisea.
° Ow
Make capteyns & thes grete guides, 1144 Fortune can
Which wende ha founde hir wheel ferme & stable. frond to to-day,
But that she is ay froward & chaungable, discord, a.”
Freendli to-day, to-morwe at discord, — 4 ae
Yiff this be trewe, Siphax can ber record. 1148
This Siphax was sent out of the toun ae ood
In cheynys bounde withoute mor tarieng, war pune’ Js
And at Tiburny lay fetrid in prisoun,
Deied at myscheeff, made ther his eendyng. 1152
And for because that he was a kyng,
The Romeyns made, of marcial pite,
Hym to be buried withynze ther cite.
[How Nabyn hauyng no title but bi tirannye took
on him to be kyng of Macedoyne was slayne. | !
N®! cam Nabys, ful pitousli weepyng, —_ 156 Nowe sppcared
Tofor Iohn Bochas, which be tirannye sition title,
Off Macedoyne took on hym to be kyng, him to be king
Hauyng no title sauff title of robberie, os
Onli bi force hymsilf to magnefie; 1160
Which with strong hand took fals* pocessioun
For to be crownyd in thilke regioun.
i ; ; that
This Macedoyne, as be old writyngis, port a
Whilom was had in ful gret reuerence, 1164 knighthood and
Because onli it floured in too thynges,
Bothe in knihthod & souereyn sapience;
Mars ther bi manhod, Pallas be prudence:
And whil thes tweyne hadde gouernaunce, 1168
Of al weelfare thei hadde suffisaunce.
And whil the noblesse of thes thynges tweyne, prone &
That is to seyne, the flour of hih clergie, gee
The hih renoun most famous & souereyne 1172 wat asa sun
Of marcial prowesse & of cheualrie,
Gouerned that lond bi prudent* policie,
Than stood that kyngdam, auctours reherse konne,
Among the Greekis lik an heuenli sonze. 1176
thes] ar H. 1145. ferme] firme R —ferme &] om. J, P.
fice. Nabis P 8. tolom. R. 1146. that] om. R.
ner. fals} ful B, Ry. 1163. Lacedemoine P.
1167. Pallas] Pallas ther H.
1174. prudent] newe B, J, P, new R.
1 MS. J. leaf 111 recto.
618 The Death of King Nabts [ BK. v
But finally ite But at the laste eclipsed was the liht [p. 273]
darkened, when Bothe of knihthod and philosophie,
and tyranny Whan couetise gan entren ageyn nht
See For to vsurpe upon the regalie, 1180
By* intrusioun of fals[e] tirannye,
And bextort force made ther entrynges,
Hauyng no title ther to* regne as kynges.
ict cause why This was cheef cause, for short conclusioun, 1184
Greece was That the noblesse of Grece was brouht{[e] bas,
rows" And Macedoyne brouht to confusioun
Be couetise, that set hem in such caas,
Wherby* ther knihthod fulli translatid was 1188
And ther policie, in cronicle ye may see,
Out of Grece to Rome the cite.
One of their And among other, bi cleer remembra[uJnce,
Nabis, hated by Of such tirauntis bi ordre rehersyng, 1193
ere Nabyn was oon, that hadde gouernaunce
In Macedoyne, & was ther crownyd kyng,
Withoute title falsli ther regnyng.
And for his froward contagious cruelte 1196
He was behatid of Rome the cite.
well as b 1
pave sty The Romeyns sente a myhti consuleer,
He was fret Litus Flaminius, of ther werris guide;
attacked
by Titus To Macedoyne he gan approche neer, 1200
a
minus, Toward Argos wher Nabyn dede abide,
Of entent[e] for tabate his pride.
But whil Nabyn stood hiest in estat,
Of Grece his lieges wer with hym at debat. 1204
andinthe = A duk Icallid P[h]ilopomones,
end overthrown
by Philopemen With the peeple that duellid in Grece-lond,
and elain by
Alexamenus, 10 stryue with Nabyn put hymsilf in pres,
Disconfited hym, fihtyng hond of hond; 1208
And at gret myscheeff, ye shal vndirstond,
Alexamenes, a kniht of that contre,
Slouh this Nabyn, the cronicle ye may see.
1177. 2nd the] ther H.
1181. By] But B, R, J.
1182. force] wrong H, R 3.
1183. to] for to B, R 3.
1184. cheef] om. H. _
1188. Cee B, R, J.
1205. A] And R.
1209. at]a H_ 1211. ecronicle] story H.
BK. V ] The Wars between Rome and Carthage
619
[Here Bochas reherceth the mortal werrys betwix
Romayns & Affricanys. | '
g Afftir this Nabyn, Bochas doth proceede
To telle the werris & the mortal stryues
Tween Romeyns & Affricanys in deede,
Wherbi ful many loste ther her lyues.
Caused wydwes, maydnes & eek wyues
To weepe and waile, in such disioynt thei stood,
On outher parti to seen the losse of blood.
For the parti of them off Roome toun
Wer maad capteyns & dyuers officeres,
Which into Affrik with peeple wer sent doun.
And specialli ther wer too consuleeris,
Notable in armys and famous in tho yeeris:
Marcus Manlius, born of the Romeyz lyne;
The tothir callid Lucyus Consoryne.
With them was sent a tribun ful notable,
Of whom tofforn I made menciouz,
For the werris most worthi & most hable,
I meene of Rome prudent Scipioun,
Which of ther cite was cheuest champioun,
Of hool entent thaffricanys tanoye,
And specialli Cartage to destroye.
And nih be Cartage ther was a cite strong,
Mihtili bilt, & stood upon the se,
The wallis thikke, round[e], squar & long,
Cheeff diffense callid of that contre,
To saue & keepe hem from al aduersite.
And fourti cubitis, with crestis marcial,
Lik as I fynde, of heihte was the wal.
And in the frount, reised for the werre,
Of stonis squar[e] was an hih dongoun
Callid Birsa; fro which wonder ferre
Men myhte beholde the contres enviroun.
And, as I reede, for ther sauacioun
Thaffricanys of purpos did ordeyne
For ther capteyns Hastrubalis tweyne.
1215. Wherbi] Therbi R.
1217. thei] the R. 1225. Censoryne P.
1231. the Affricans P.
1242. from R.
1 MS. J. leaf r11 recto.
2 Bochas now
ne proceeds to tell
about the wars
between Rome
and Carthage.
1216
Among the
Roman captains
1220 were Marcus
Manlius, Lucius
Censorinus and
ipio.
1224
1228
1232
Near by
age
was a strong
city upon the
ers the chief
ence
1236 that country.
1240 In it was a
4 high keep
called Byrsa.
The Africans
chose two
Hasdrubals to
eir
1244 captains.
620 The Wars between Rome and Carthage [BK. v
Scipio laid The said[e] dongoun, myhtili batailed,
plbokearen Ageyn al sautis to stonden & endure: 1248
part ofthe wall But worthi Scipiouz, for al that, hath nat failed
For taproche & doon bi besi cure,
With his engynes myhti, strong & seure;
So that be force, this kniht most marciall, 1252
A gret quantite brak doun of the wall.
while Lucius and And Lucyus, callid Sensoryne,
forth to give Departid is with Marcus Manlius,
probate And bi the counsail of Scipioun & doctryne, 1256
Hasdrubal, ~~ Bothe of assent, in armis vertuous,
Thei took ther way, myn auctour tellith thus,
With Hastrubal, sothlhi & thei myhte,
Wher as he lay that same day to fihte. 1260
whom they | ‘Thes consuleris assailled the cite [p. 274]
slew together Callid Cine, & beet adoun the wall,
Carthaginians Slouh fourti thousand, the cronicle ye may see,
in Cirrha. Of Affricannys be vengaunce ful mortall. 1264
And ther constable callid Hastruball
Was slayn that day bi them’, it is no doute,
That he most trustid & next wer hym aboute.
In the mean- And in this while, most manlli of corage, 1268
entered Carthage The worthi tribun, Publius Scipioun,
the inhabitants Bi verray force is entrid in Cartage;
Pima And sixe daies, as maad is mencioun,
He and his knihtis constreyned so the toun, 1272
That disespeired, with ther dedli cheeris,
Thei of the tou yald[e] hem prisoneenis,
ma Dense? th that Meekli requeryng vnto Scipioun,
allowed to ive To resceyue hem in this mortal rage; 1276
pay the Rome That men & wommen duellyng in that toun
See With the citeseyns, yong & old of age,
Mihte abide & lyuen in seruage
Vnder the Romeyns, ther was no bet reffut, 1280
And yeer bi yeer paie hem a tribut.
1248. assautis H.
1251. engynes] Inmyes H. 1253. the] ther H.
1254. Censoryne H. 1259. H acdruball P.
1262. Cyrra
1266. them] hym B, R, him J, P
1273. them] hy
1278. the] om. H.
BK. V ] The Fate of Perseus, King of Sparta 621
And of Affrik the tothir Hastruball,
Which among hem afforn was crownid kyng,
Lefft his estat and his poweer roiall,
Yald hym prisoneer, humbeli knelyng.
And his wiff most pitousli weepyng,
Whan that she sauh hir lord was take so,
Ran inta* fire & brent hirsilff for wo.
Sixe and twenti thousand, as I fynde,
Wer lad of wommen into captyuyte;
Thretti thousand of men cam behynde,
Take prisoneres in gret aduersite.
And seuenteene daies brente that cite,
That in ther wallis was non so harde ston,
But into pouder it was brent anon.
And this was doon, breeffli to conclude,
Bi the prowesse of Publius Scipiouz.
Sold in seruage was a gret multitude;
Ther old[e] lordis lad fetrid to prisoun.
This was of Cartage fynal destruccioun, —
To write ther compleyntis Bochas abit no while,
But into Grece turneth ageyn his stile,
The other
Hasdrubal gave
himself up to
aa ae
and his wife
1284 ran into a fire
for sorrow and
burnt herself
up.
1288
26,000 women
and 30,000 men
were captured,
and the city
destroyed.
1292
It was by ghe
1296 prowess o
ublius Scipio
that the fall
of Carthage
wae accom-
plished.
1300
[How kyng Perseus bi Romayns was outraied &
after taken. |!
| Lacedemoyne remembryng off] a kyng
Callid Perseus, a ful proud werreiour,
Cleymyng a title, upon hym vsurpyng
For to succeede as trewe enheritour
To grete Alisandre, most myhti conquerour,
Fulli affermyng, ageyn a certeyn day
He wil be crowned maugre who seith nay.
And his name to putte in memorie,
Caste in his persone renewe the prowesse
Of kyng Alisaundre, & tencrece his glorie,
To folwe his tracis in knihthod & noblesse.
And first of alle, of hasti wilfulnesse,
That his conquest myhte spreede ferre,
Gan of purpos with Romeyns to haue werre.*
There was once
: king of F
Sparta name
1304 Perseus, i
usurped the
crown after the
death of
Alexander.
1308
He first made
war on Rome,
for he was
ee to
ollow in
132 Alexander’s
footsteps;
1316
st inta] in to the R, into B, P, in to J, into a R 3, in taffryk
ia8o" ‘twenti] thntty H. 1301. com
eynt
1304. Parseus R. 1405. title] tithe Fi I on seith] say H.
1316. werre] a werre
1 MS. J. leaf 111 verso.
622 The Fate of Perseus, King of Sparta [BK. Vv
but when he But aftir this he was bet auised,
realized the
power of Whan he parceyued the marcial apparaille
grew afraid and Of the Romeyns, wheroff he was agrised,
make peace. Wex afferd ther noblesse to assaille, 1320
Which ay wer founde victorious in bataille.
And wher he had afforn* be rek[elles,
Sent enbassatours with them to trete of pes.
The Romans hei hadde apparceyued his presumpcioun, 1324
saw how
presumptuous he And how he was proud and surquedous.
was, and sent °
Sulpicius, who SeNt a consul with a gret poweer doum,
settee sith he name of whom was Sulpicius,
contempt. Which dedli hatid the said[e] Perseus, 1328
Thoruh hertli rancour ageyn hym wex soleyn,
Of his ambassiat hauyng but disdeyn.
Paulus £milius And ther parti for to fortefie
was also sent
against him by With the said consul Sulpicius, 1332
Rome; and the ° ° °
night after his Lhei sent another, expert in cheualrie,
aye etlivaed, A consul also, Paulus Emylius,
Among Romeyns notable & famous.
And folwyng aftir, the silue same niht, 1336
The moone eclipsed fulli of his liht.
a token that. A cleer tokne, as maad is mencioum,
be vanquished. That kyng Perseus should haue a sharp[e] shour,
And that his lordshepe & his regeoun 1340
Sholde been oppressid, void of al socour,
And that Macedonoys shold haue no fauour
Ageyn the Romeyns togidre whan thei mette
With round[e] speris & suerdis sharpe whette. 1344
Perseus Pole The day of bataille, to his encres of glorie, [p. 275]
ya young For the parti of them off Rome toun,
knight called
Cato; Ther was a kniht that caused the victorie,
Yong, fressh and lusti, & callid was Catoun, 1348
Which brouht ther enmyes to confusioun;
For Macedonoys thoruh his gret[e] myht
Outraied wern, & Perseus put to fliht.
and afterwards But Emylius, the noble consuleer, 1352
sons were made Sente a capteyn callid Octauyus
prisoners b
captain called TO pursue afftir in coostis ferr & neer
ee The proude kyng, this said[e] Perseus.
1322. he had afforn] afforn he hadde B, R, J, afore he had P.
1330. enbassat R, H, R 3, Ambassat J, embassade P.
1342. fauour] socour R.
1353. callid ts repeated in H.
BK. V } The Destruction of Corinth 623
And he was take, for ther was no rescus, 1356
With his sonis, that wer in noumbre tweyne,
Phelipp, Alisaundre, the stori is certeyne.
MN auctour heer tellith of kynges manye, cere chirey hares
ha ed
Thretti in noumbre: the firste Geramus, 1360 dae a _
Which haue regned witbyne Macedonye;* soa heer ey
And laste of alle was this Perseus.
The noumbre of yeeris, Bochas writeth thus,
Was nyne hundrid, as is remembred heer, 1364
Space of ther regnyng, with foure & tuenti yeer.
Aftir translatid was the regeoun, a
With al ther iles, vnto thobeissaunce taeda
Of them of Rome, withoute excepcioun; 1368 translated to
The* grete lordis that wer of most puissaunce ee
Abood[e] ther long vndir gouernaunce,
And Perseus, disconsolat of cheer,
Duryng his lyff abood ther prisoneer. 1372
[How the peple of Achaia, with ther cheef Cite
Corynthe by Romayns was destroied. | !
6 fest the lordshepe wered out & spent cores ae
Of Macedoyne, as maad is mencioun. aicedonis,
Ther wer too contres therto adiacent, Sparta, which
° a were bound
The ton Achaia, a litil regeoun, 1376 together in an
And Spartanoys* goyng enviroun, oe
Mihti of peeple and of gret substaunce,
In oon confederat & of oon alliaunce.
Thei wer conioyned & bothe maad al oon 1380 Ae they were
Bi a maner feithful convencioun. Rome, the
And when the Romeyns knew hem for ther foon, to ow die
Hauyng ther frenshipe in suspecioun, fae ee
Thei caste to make a disiunccioun 1384
Atween thes londis, in breede & eek in lengthe;
For thyng disseuered is menusid of his strengthe.
Ordeyned cites and toun[e]s heer & yonder, ont te tore
Wheron the Romeyns gan make a decre, 1388 Tite against the
That ther lordshepes sholde be sette assonder, messengers,
1359. tellith ee R, J, telleth here P. 1361. Macedoyne B.
1369. The] To B
1377. Spartanoys] Spathanoys B, Spatanoys R, H, R 3, Spa-
tanois
1 MS. J. leaf 112 recto.
624 The Destruction of Corinth [ BK. Vv
Which made the peeple in eueri gret cite,
Whan thei knew ther fals subtilite,
To rise attonys, most cruel of ther cheeris, 1392
And wolde ha slayn the Romeyn massageris.
and finally the And fynalli bi this occasioun
Romans, losi
patience, sent Romeyns ageyn hem gan wexen furious,
called Mummiue Took hardynesse off ther dyuisioun; 1396
= " And a consul callid Munius,
A manli kniht, in armis ful famous,
Into Achaia was fro Roome sent
It to destroye bi gret auisement. 1400
qhe Achacans Thei of Achaia bi ther necligence,
in their pride
entered th : ;
pured the And bi ther froward wilful reklesnesse,
preparation. Qf verray pride list make no diffence;
and eet their ‘ : :
wives and | houhte themsilff, withoute auisynesse, 1404
women on &@ bd
high mountain Off poweer able, & strenger in sothnesse
to see the bate. Than wer[e] Romeyns, veraili in deede:
Thus wer thei stroied afforn or thei took heede.
Thei stood in hope in ther sturdynesse 1408
Bi that bataille to haue had gret pillage,
Of the Romeyns to ha[ue] won[n]e gret richesse.
And for a pompe, of wilful fals dotage
Thei took ther wyues and wommen yong off age, 1412
And set hem up on an hih mounteyn,
That ther manhod myhte in the feeld be seyn.
Put the Romans Whan the Romeyns mette hem in bataille,
troops like The dispurueied and out off ordenaunce, 1416
carried off the Slayn lik beestis, ther poweer gan to faille,
women and
children to Of froward pride & rekles gouernaunce,
That Achaia was brouht to myschaunce;
Wommen and childre, for sorwe almost mad, _1420
To lyue in seruage wer to Rome lad.
Gorath vas ..¢ Corynthe that tyme was ther cheef cite,
market of ite Destroied be Romeyns & brouht vnto ruyne,
Which among citees, in Bochas ye may see, 1424 .
Aboue alle othir dide in honour shyne;
Of alle sciences ther floured the doctrine,
And of crafftis artificeres most wise,
Rekne al the world, ther was cheef marchaundise. 1428
1393. messangeeresH. 1397. MummiusP. 1399. from R.
ae: ee: oe
BK. V ] The Destruction of Corinth 625
Thus vnwarli in ther most noblesse, [p. 276] thee the Hames
Sittyng of Fortune on the [hihest] stage, gi a
Thei wer destroied of tresor & richesse,
Brouhte to nouht bi slauhtre & pillage, 1432
Ther wallis broke in that cruel rage.
And in that brennyng, Bochas seith, the leuene
Rauht a gret part upward to the heuene.
Pleyn with the erthe the wallis broke doun, 1430 cece
The peeple slayn merciles, yong & old; Ce calpialain
And ther was maad a gret dyuisioun: sae inte
Summe lad in seruage, & somme of them wer sold.
Images of coper, of syluer & of gold 1440
Wer sodenli, in al that violence,
Togidre molte, so hoot was the feruence.
Of which metal thus afftir it is fall, ines
Gold, siluer, coper, medlid into oon, 444 old and aver
Coper of Corynthe men sothli dede it call, melted and nee
Thoruh al the world of custum euerichon. into a mixture
Fame of which metal ts so ferr Igon, called Copper
_ That the vessellis forgid of the same 1448 % Con
Corynthoise Icallid is by* name.
g Afftir Corynthe was thus brent to nouht, Ree
A prynce callid Philipp Philermene perinthe
To Iohn Bochas hath his compleynt brouht, 1452 Philermene
In whos face and cheer it was weel seene, complaint to
The woful constreynt of his mortal teene. re
And he was whilom, Bochas doth specefie,
Lord of a cite callid Vallaquye. 1456
Marcus Actilius took hym prisoneer, sae wen tiene
Brouht hym to Roome, list hym nat respite. Bee Ohta
g Next* to [Iohn] Bochas, with an heuy cheer, as was alto
Appeerid a duc* callid Democrite. 1460 Democritus
Of Etholis, myn auctour doth so write,
He was cheeff lord; but he & his contre
Translatid wern to Roome the cite.
1430. of Fortune on the hihest] hihest of Fortune i a the H, P,
Tey of Fortune on the R 3, H 5 — on] in J, R — hihese]
i
1441. that] ther R. 1444. medlig soyned H, R 3.
1449. callid H, called P— by] the B
14 9 The oS BE mark Ey misplaced before A ne line, B—
R 3 — an] om.
ieee i mth B R, af P — Domocrite R, aT Dancents P.
1461. Elholoys H.
626 Antiochus of evil Life defeated by Rome (BK. Vv
who exsped This duk was cast and cheyned in prisoun, 1464
retaken, went F’scapid onys, in stori as I fynde,
himself. Take ageyn, throwe in a derk dongoun,
Ther for sorwe wente out of his mynde,
Slouh hymsilff at myscheeff ageyns kynde— _1468
Loo, hou thes princis proud & rek[el]les
Haue shamful eende, which canaat lyue in pes!
[How grete Anthiocus vsyng riot and viciuos lyu-
yng/ bi marchus Actilius was outraied & deied
sodenly. |}
ee a UCHYNG be stori in ordre heer folwyng
Sa ee Of Seleuchus & gret Anthiochus, 1472
the ring Off his mooder Laodices & pe ryng,
With other toknes & signes merueillous,
And how also the famous* Seleuchus
Hadde in his theih, as writen is heer-toforn, 1476
Preent of an anker the day whan he was born,
ore ae And al the childre bi successioun
which descended Ffadde be discent, bor[e]n of his lynage,
children, was Preent of an anker, as maad is mencioun, 1480
Fourth Book. The fourte book, with al the surplusage
Of othir toknis ther told in pleyn langage.
And of the seide same Seleuchus
Cam be discent the saide Antiochus. 1484
Another
Anettas, Whos herte was set of hih[e] couetise
a cescendant of To folwe his lustis and delectacioun{s];
And specialli he caste gan & deuise
To wynne in Grece dyuers regiouns. 1488
And of the peeple he cauhte occasiouns,
Bi ther fauour to conquere that* contre
And to rebelle ageyn Rome the cite.
rebelled against With multitude & gret apparaille 1492
conquered many He gat in Grece castellis & eek touns
in Greece; Longyng to Roome, conquered be bataille;
Took upon hym in his presumpciouns
Falsli to folwe the inclynaciouns 1496
Of his berthe, whil he dede abide
In a cite that callid was Calcide.*
1475. famous] same B. 1480. an] om. R.
1483. same saide H. 1486. delectacioun R.
1490. that] ther B, R. 1498. Talcide B, R, J, Ealcide H.
1 MS. J. leaf 112 verso.
BK. V] Antiochus of evil Life defeated by Rome 627
For cause of slouthe he leffte his cheualrie, bakes neta ag
Forsook{e] Mars & took hym to Cupide, 1500 snd, forsaking
Restyng the wyntir, he spente in lecherie, banat tee
In wach and riot, ches Venus to his guide: spent the winter
Sensualite maad resoun stonde aside; nas
And bi thes menys, for short conclusioun, 1504
He was conveied to his destruccioun.
And whan that wyntir witb his frostis colde Ween tpnne
Ipassid was and al his stormys keene, Bee be
In not spent and wastid, as I tolde, 1508
And ver cam in witb his newe greene,
And fresshf{e] Flora, which is of flouris queene,
Off custum gynneth hir motles out to dresse, —
In which{e] sesoun, as auctours alle expresse, 1512
Kynges, princis, with marcial apparaille, [p. 277] and Phebus
shone in the
Tyme whan Phebus in the Ram doth shyne, Pec nabs
Thei hem dispose to gon out to bataille, descended
For exersise of marcial disciplyne. 1516 Rome with his
And doun fro Roome, expert in that doctryne, ma
Descendid is Marchus Actilius
Ageyn this vicious proude Anthiochus.
This noble Mark, preued in armis weel, 1520
Which in his tyme was soo good a kniht,
With al his hoost[e], armyd in briht steel,
Ageyn Antiochus cam to the feeld doun mht,
Vpon a morwe whan Phebus shon ful brht. 1524
Set his wardeyns be capteyns that he ches
Vpon an hill callid Termophiles.
Antiochus upon the tothir side, pitoseas
Whom glotonye & riot dede oppresse, 1528 fotous
And dronke Bachus, which with hym dide abide, defeated and
With Morpheus wiff, of slombre cheeff goddesse, —
Which caused hym thoruh slouthe & idilnesse
That prouidence out of his court was gon, 1532
Causyng that day the slauhtre of many on.
Whan the consul, Marchus, the worthi knyht,
His aduersaries proudli gan assaille,
Thei vnpurueied, took hem to the fliht; 1536
Disaraied thei myhte nat auaile.
Thus Anthiochus fledde out of bataille;
1512. sesouns H. 1534. \18t the] this R.
628 Antiochus of evil Life defeated by Rome [BK. v
For ageyn Romeyns he myht nat endure:
Therfore on hym fill the disconfiture. 1540
to Ephesus. Thus rebukid fledde to Ephesie,
make peace but Ferr in Grece, and ther to duelle he ches,
Sente Romeyns a gret embassatrie
With said[e] Marchus for to trete of pes. 1544
But his* embassiat, this verray dout[elles, |
Whan thei atteyned of Marchus the presence,
Wer refusid & hadde non audiénce.
Greatly Of which Antiochus gretli was a-shamed, 1548
then began a Caste ageyn Roome of hate & enmyte
Rome'on the 10 reise a poweer, & hath of newe attamyd
ae To gadre shippis & make a gret arme,
Gynne a werre ageyn hem on the se, 1552
Hauyng an hope, vndir a coward dreede,
Bet on the watir than on the lond to speede.
and was Made his shippis be stuffed witb vitaille,
fae And his capteyns han the lond forsake; 1556
But whan the Romeyns gan hym of newe’* assaille,
His shippis brent & al his stuff was take.
And lik myn auctour compendiousl: doth make,
Thries on the se the Romeyns werreyng, 1560
He was outraied, the stori witnessyng.
Once more he Yit efft ageyn to his confusioun
fought the *
Romans on ~=©— Wpon the lond|[e] he gan make* hym strong,
land wnt Mette with Cornelie callid Scipioun, 1564
with scythe, With waynes, cartes maad for the werre long,
Shod with hard iren, sharp sithes set among
In trauers wise bi gret ordenaunce;
But for al that, he was brouht to myschaunce. 1568
and elephants, With olyfauntis & castellis on the[r] bak
d again h LPR
was compelled That day was slayn many a worthi kniht,
to flee and was
finally obliged Wpon his host so cruel was the wrak,
tributeto - L hat he constreyned took hym to the fliht, 1572
Rome. Forsook the contre, fledde out of mennys siht.
To the Romeyns, he coude it nat delaie,
Ech yeer constreyned a tribut for to paie.
1544. of}om. R. 1545. his] in this B, R, J, P.
1548. which] be which A. 1551. the shippis R.
1554. In reading MS. H., turn back to leaf 105.
1557. gan hym of newe] of newe gan hym B, R, J, P.
1563. maken B. 1565. the] their H.
1569. their] the R, J. 1572. hym to] vn to H.
1573. the] his H.
BK. V }
But he of fraude, because of his tribut
For couetise feyned sore pouerte,
Gadred robbours, & be fals pursut
Oppressid marchauntis, spoilled the contre,
Robbed templis, of hatful cruelte,
And fro Iubiter callid Dodonyan*
Took alle the reliques, the story telle can.
Dide sacrilege & entrid in that cloos
Withoute reuerence or any obseruaunce,
For which the temple ageyn{es] hym aroos,
And, as it is put in remembraunce,
Bi the goddis ther fill a gret vengaunce
Vpon this tiraunt, quakyng in his dreed, —
Al sodenh he fill to grounde ded.
gq Lenvoye.
HIS tragedie of Anthiochus,
Who list in ordre his froward stori see,
First to al vertu he was contrarious,
And rebel euer to Roome the cite,
Iustli accusid of vicious thynges thre:
Of pride, slouthe and of glotonye,
And of disordynat superfluite,
Of niht excesse, riot and lecherie.
On hym the Romeyns wer victorious
Twies on the lond [and] onis on the se,
He was nat hardi, but malicious;
In eueri bataile his custum was to flee.
Wher vices regne ther may no grace bee;
To al surfetis his lust he dede applie,
Noised and disclaundred thoruhout his contre
Of niht excesse, riot and lecherie.
Among his lieges wood & despitous,
And for a coward knowe in the feeld was he;
The poore toppresse a wolff most furious,
And be deceit a fox for subtilite:
No man mor froward, of hih nor louh degre,
Nor mor delityng in falsheed nor flatrie.
1576. his] that R, om. H, this R
1577. sore]om.H. 1581.
doncan P, Dodouyan, B, H 5s.
1585. temple] peple H.
1598. Ibis and the next stanza are transposed in R.
1605. riot] pride R.
An Envoy on the Tragedy of Antiochus
[p.
629
He then began
to rob mer-
chants and
temples,
1576
1580
and at last
fell dead while
in the act of
despoiling the
temple
fopiter of
ona.
1588
1584
273 ee
Antiochus,
1596
and everywhere
beaten by the
Romans and -
600 to flee, shews
: that where
vices reign
there is no
grace.
flattery; and
his end was
sudden death.
3.
Dodovian H, R 3, Dodavian R, Do-
630 Hieron of Syracuse. Scipio Africanus [BK. Vv
What was his eende? a sodeyn deth, parde, 1612
For his outrages of pride & lecherie.
Noble Princes’ Noble Princis, of prudence ful famous,
if you are In al your grettest roial mageste,
will prosper. Remembreth pleynli, yif ye be vertuous, 1616
cast down foe Ye shal perseuere in long prosperite,
hie pride, riot Wher the contrarie causeth aduersite,
As this stori afforn doth specefie
Of Anthiochus, cast from his dignite 1620
For his gret pride, riot & lecherie.
g Explicit.
(How Ieronimus of Ciracuse kyng was slayn, and
how Scipio Affrican that labored for common
wele of Romayns was exilid bi them and s0
deied. ]!
iy dace tes FFTIR the deth of this Antiochus,
came Hieron of 4 A Ther cam a prince to Bochas compleynyng,
was innocently Which that callid was* Ieronimus, 1624
mi bi three Of Siracuse whilom lord & kyng.
hie hateful © Which of his lieges, he nothyng trespacyng,
earieee: Islay[e]n was with his thre sustren deere
Of hatrede, myn auctour writ so heere. 1628
Siracusanys hadde a condicioun,
fickle and in Thoruh chaunges newe ay to been vnstable,
killing their Of wilful malis void of al resoun
occation, wo On ther kynges for to be vengable; 1632
that they =‘ Thei loued nat to han hem perdurable,
anewone. But eueri yeer of custum, this 1s trewe,
Them to gouerne to han a prince newe.
And Goer” And for ther chaunges & ther vnkouth stryues, 1636
fighting snd With variaunce of ther condiciouns,
their lives, 1 Because no frut is founde in ther lyues,
shall pass over
and speak of Nor in ther stories nor ther* successiouns,
the Scipio. =~ -T will passe ouer & speke of Scipiouns, 1640
And first to write of the worthi man
Callid in his tyme Scipio Affrican.
1624. was callid B, R, J —Ieromyus H, Ieromynus R 3, Hiero-
nimus P.
1627. thre}om.R. 1639. ther J in ther B, R.
1 MS. J. leaf 113 recto.
BK. V ]
A famous kniht in allfle] naciouns
For his conquest, shortli to conclude,
Which hadde brouht ful many regiouns,
Mor be wisdam than be multitude,
Tobeie the Romeyns; but for ingratitude,
Which that he fond in hem, as I reede,
How he wrouhte to telle I wil proceede.
It is remembnid of his worthynesse,
Whil that he was flouryng in yong age,
How Roome was maad[e] ladi and maistresse
Of many a lond[e], to ther auauntage.
And specialli al Affnik & Cartage
Bi his prowesse, as maad is mencioun,
Wer brouht of Romeyns vndir subieccioun.
But thei ageynward wer to hym vnkynde,
Bi accusacioun{s] founde out bi ther falsnessis,
Saide ageyn hyn, as it is put in mynde,
Be record of many fals witnessis,
That he shold haue besiled the richessis
Of Cartage & Affrik the contre,
Which appartened to Roome the cite.
But ageynward this noble Affrican
Proudli gaff ansuere to his accusours:
He neuer withheeld fro tyme that he began
Toward hymsilf no part of ther tresours,
Sauf as the maner is of conquerours,
For to conserue his worshep & his name,
As most was profit to the toun[e]s fame.
This is to meene, pleynli & nat tarie,
He neuer acrochid tresour nih nor ferre
Toward hymsilf, but that was necessarie
For ther worshep to meynteene with the werre.
And yit that tyme he was ther lodesterre,
Tencrece ther boundis, & fulli his delit
Was al hool set to the comoun proffit.
1651. yong] om. H.
1652. maistresse] pryncesse H, R 3.
1653. lond] toun & londe H.
Rome’s Ingratitude to Scipio Africanus
[p.
631
Scipio
P
Afncanus —
a wise an
1644 famous knight
whom the
Romans treated
with great
ingratitude,
1648
1652 under their
subjection.
1656
They falsely
accused him
of aise
priating the
wealth of
Carthage and
1660 Africa.
But noble
4 Africanus
answered them
prow” that
© never took
more than was
necessary
1668
1664
279] messes of
1672
the war.
1676
1658. accusaciouns] occasiouns H — falsnessis] falsnesse J, P.
Paes 3.
Ri rr riches R 3.
on the} he R, J
1662, &] in R.
632 The Epitaph of Scipio Africanus
ineratiade He took non heed of al the surplusage
drove him into Of ther tresours nor ther gret richesse,
he name reserued of Affrik & Cartage
To his knyhthod and his hth noblesse.
But ther malicious expert vnkyndenesse
Was in cause, breeffli to compile,
His bodi fro them perpetueli texile.
d resol e
Pe ae Cast hym neuer withynne Roome toun
tppearin Rome Aftir that day among hem to be seyn,
a small village. Vnkyndenesse gaff hym occasioun
Tabsente his persone, & of hih disdeyn
Texile hymsilff & neuer come ageyn,
But for tabide in a smal village
Callid Lynterne, whan he was falle in age.
He wrote his
own epitaph, ; nig :
saying that => Bi a maneer of indignacioun,
neither his
bones nor his An epitaphie he sette upon his graue, —
ashes should
ever repose | Which seide thus to them of Roome toun:
within the walls ¢¢
of Rome. O peeple vnkynde, vnkynde ageyn resoun,
My funerall asshes nor my bonis dede
In thi wallis thou neuer shalt posseede.
shel bones = In thyn vnkynde froward teritorie
in thy froward ~My bonys shal nat resten nor abide;
ground, and the
And for men sholde mynde vpon hym haue
[BK. Vv
1680
1684
1688
1692
1696
1700
remembrance of But thyn vnkyndenesse to putten in memorie,
thi Tati- .
rine ndite ‘The remembraunce shal be rad ful wide
kncwariar and reaee
wide by ths Of thes lettres graue, on eueri side,
small inscrip- Be report onli of this smal scripture,
my tomb. Which heer is set upon my sepulture.
“That is why
my funeral was
held in exile, Set on my graue for a memoniall,
although I did
so much for, Whi that my bonys out of Roome toun
’" Been buried heer lowe vndir this wall,
In exil holde my feeste funerall, —
Vnkyndenesse me droff from* that cite,
That wrouhte so moche for the comounte.”’
1684. from
1690. eT to dwell H.
1698. Ae ey H, R 3.
1702. The
1711. from] out of B, R, J, P, out fro H 5, fro R 3.
Loo, heer the cause, be breef descripcioun
1704
1708
1712
BK.v] The Ingratitude of Rome to Scipio Asiaticus 633
[How Scipio Asian lord of Asie pat labored euer for
the comon wele was mordred. | !
FTIR the eende of this Affrican,
Callid in his tyme worthi Scipioun,
Cam next his brothir, Scipio Asian,
Which in Asie hadde domynacioun.
Geyn whom was made an accusacioun
To al the senat, that he vntreuli sholde
Certeyn tresours toward hymsilff withholde,
Which that he in Asia hadde wonne
In his conquest be many strozg bataille.
Which accusacioun falsli was begonne
Of old envie, causeles, this no faile;
Whos worthynesse ful mekil dede auaille
To comoun profhit, be thes too conquerours,
Bi gret richesse encresyng ther tresours.
The ton in Affrik, as ye haue herd me tell,
Bi his wisdam & his cheualrie,
The tothir in Asia, which dede excell
In hih prowesse, as bookes specefie.
Falsli hyndred of hatreede & envie,
Bi compassyng of oon Anthiochus,
Hym to destroie he was so desirous.
Natwithstondyng thes tweyne Scipiouns
Hadde in ther tyme, be manyfold batailles,
Brouht into Roome so many regiouns
Tobeie ther cite, with marcial apparailles,
And euermor[e] to ther gret auailles
Brouht in tresours tencrece with ther toun,
Yit han thei wrouhte to ther destruccioun.
The ton in exil, as maad is mencioun,
Deied, alas, whan that he was old;
The second was moordred in prisoun:
Ther bothe stories remembrid heer & told
To yiue exaumple to princis manyfold,
That who that laboureth for a comounte
Leseth ofte his thank, be Scipiouns ye may see.
1732. Antiochus H, R, J.
17355 37» 38- bataile, apparaile, availe H, R 3.
1 MS. J. leaf 113 verso.
His brother,
Scipio Asian,
was also
enviously
accused of
appro: riating to
1716 hon certain
treasures
1720 Whi which aire
er
with many
lands, for the
common profit.
1724
And this was
done by ea
compass
1728 one pete
who wished to
destroy him.
1732
Such was the
ingratitude with
which these
two able men
1736 were treated.
1740
Scipio Asian
was murdered
in prison,
Africanus died
1744 are remembered
1747. offten H.
634 The Fate of Duke Philopemen (BK. v
[How the Duk philopomones was take, put in prisoun,
aftir drank poison and so deied. |!
Prise: FFTIR the processe of thes too Scipiouns, 1748
pai a Atween too peeplis* wilful & rekles
the war between Began in Grece newe discenciouns,
Etolia, Tween Acheois & Etholois doutf[elles.
And a gret duk Philopomones, 1752
A prince that tyme of ful gret puissaunce,
Hadde of Messoneys hooli the gouernaunce.
led hisown army This said[e] prince Philopomones, [p. 280]
fair plain, = Leedyng his host upon a ful fair pleyn, 1756
As he rood armed, & put hymsilff in pres
Mid his peeple as gouernour & wardeyn,
Folk out of reule for to calle ageyn,
Vpon his steede, as he gan hem fette, 1760
In deu ordre his wardes for to sette.
an vet tive And this prince*, of port most marcial,
by his enemies Tn the pursut which that he gan make,
and put into i
priton where he Among his enmyes he hadde a sodeyn fall, 1764
ied by drinking : °
poison. Void of al rescus vnwarli he was take,
Of al his freendis lik a man forsake,
Among his enmyes brouht into prisoun,
Ther maad an eende be drynkyng of poisoun. __1768
pe ciled by a Of Philopomones this was the fatal cas,
captain called Qut of gouernaunce, his peeple desolat,
ycortas. ‘ : °
Except a capteyn callid Ligorias,
Which in the werris was wonder fortunat, 1772
Of Acheois took on hym the estat,
Them to gouerne & the peeple leede,
Of hym no mor in Bochas I do reede.
[Off the thirde Scipion Nasica that ever wrouht
moche for the comonte. |?
The third
Scipio, Natica, YN auctour heer maketh a digressioun, 1776
surpassed all And reherseth for a memorial
other Romans
in wisdom and Of the thridde worthi Scipioun,
ana Callid Nasica, which in especiall
1749. peeple B. _ 1751. Etholois] Messanians P.
1754. Messoneys] Messonoys H, Achaia P.
1758. myddes H. 1759. for] om. R. 1760. his] a H.
1762. this prince] thes princis B. 1763. he] thei H.
1 MS. J. leaf 113 verso. * MS. J. leaf 114 recto.
BK. Vv] The Ingratitude of Rome to Scipio Nasica 635
Be disposicioun verray naturall
Hold among Romeyns, bi report of langage,
Passyng al othir in wisdam & corage,
Old of discrecioun & but* yong of yeeris.
For a myracle, myn auctour doth expresse,
Whan senatours sente massageris
Into Frigia bi gret auisynesse
For Berosynthia, most famous goddesse,
Whan she was brouht bi them that ded hir guide,
In hous nor temple she wolde nat abide,
Sauf in the paleis of this Scipioun,
To putte his name mor in remembraunce.
The which also, thoruh his hih renoun,
Gallobois he brouhte to vttraunce,
A peeple off Grece, ferr out of gouernaunce;
But Scipioun gan hem so werreie,
Maugre ther malis the Romeyns for to obeye.
Wherbi his name was put in memorie,
And ful gret thank in Roome he hath disserued,
Because onli of this gret victorie,
For which the tryumphe was to hym reserued.
But at the laste ful falsli he was serued
Of the Romeyns aftir ther old maneer,
In this tragedie anon as ye shal heer.
Aftir he hadde aumentid ther tresours,
Conquered in Asie many regiouns,
Caused of ther foon that thei wer victours,
Appesid of Graccus the fals occasiouns,
Compassed of malis be newe discenciouns
Atween the peeple & also the senat, —
He of hih wisdam hath stynt al that debat.
Trustyng the Romeyns, Scipioun was begiled,
Loste ther fauour, & offendid nouht;
Be them vnwarli banshed & exiled,
Cleene forgetyn; put out of ther thouht
For comoun proffit al that he hath wrouht.
The guerdouz lost, thouh princis canat see,
Of al that doon for any comounte.
1783. but] nat but B, R, J, P.
1799. this] his R, J, P— gret] om. H, R 3.
1780
When the
Senate sent
messengers to
1784 Phrygie for
the goddess
Berecyntia,
1788
she would not
abide anywhere
except in
at sre house,
which was a
1792 miracle.
1796
He also brought
the Gallobois to
and was given
1800 a triumph;
but at the last
1804 he was treated
wi
ingratitude.
1808
He lost the
or of
omans an
1812 was banished
and forgotten —
the usual reward
of those who
labour for the
common weal.
1816
636 The Reward of those who labour for the Community [BK. v
Their popularity T ik a blase for a w([hjile liht,*
is like a wisp
of flame or a =Which sheweth [ful] cleer & is neuir aftir seyn,
glimpee of the Or lik a sonne for a moment brht, 1820
clouds. Vnwarli shroudid with a cloude of reyn,
Riht so the wyndi fauour bloweth in veyn,
May resemble for a mutabilite,
Of them that doon for any comounte. 1824
iS, we iclic' a sre The peeple folweth ther owne oppynyouns,
their opinions In ther conceitis thei be so wonderful;
Blind Bayards; Will halt the bridil of ther discreciouns:
Ther hasti deemyng so bestial 1s & dull, 1828
On blynde Baiard thei braiden at a pull,
To quite the guerdouns of marcial bounte
Of them that doon for any comounte.
the fame of 8; This day a prince stant in the peeplis grace, 1832
to the stare Lik as thei wolde his name deifie
obscured to: ~~ Aboue the sterris in Iubiteris place,
: With Mars & Phebus his name to stellefie;
But be to-morwe ther komth a sodeyn skie, 1836
Shewyng ther is a ful feynt surete
Of them that doon for any comourte.
We need only And for tafferme that it is treuli so, [p. 281]
Ge eres Calle thre Scipiouns [un]to remembraunce: 1840
First of Affrik & Asie, bothe too;
Note in cronicles ther knihtli gouernaunce,
Ther restles labour Romeyns for tauaunce,
Rekne ageynward how thes princis thre 1844
Wer ful vngoodli quit bi the comounte.
g Lenvoy.
bd abescc A HIS tragedie of thre Scipiouns,
riage hae [That wer] so worthi in knyhthod &* notable,
many Tesiere Made so many famous regiouns 1848
Subiect to Roome (this stori is no fable),
Wher the Romeyns, double & deceyuable,
Shewed ageynward to thes princis thre,
1818. liht] pant B, H, R, J. 1819. ful] om. R, J, P
1820. a]
1832. This ae and the next are daar in H.
1839. i | is H. 1840. unto] to J, P. 1845. quit] om. H.
1847. & | & eek B.
BK.V]| The Reward of those who labour for the Community 637
The thank[e] lost & guerdoun couenable 1852
Of hym that doth for any comounte.
Rekne up in Affrik the cites & the touns, ae ok
Grete Cartage with castellis deffensable; vast revenues,
Rekne in Asie the gret pocessiouns 1856
With reuenus verray innumerable;
Rekne ther tryumphes of pris incomparable,
Which considred, ye may a merour see,
How the guerdouns be fals & flaskisable 1860 |
Of them that doon for any comounte.
Thei wer whilom the Romeyn champiouns, poets
Off senatours to sette the honour stable, champions of
e e e e eir nation,
Tauoid discord & al discenciouns 1864 were
‘ finally thrown
Atween the comouns & statis honourable; down from
Fortune's wheel,
But she that is of custum ay chaungable,
Fortune, 1n whom may be no surete,
Sheweth in hir wheel the guerdouns most mutable 1868
Of them that doon for any comourte.
Noble Princis, peiseth in your resouns, ee eal
Al worldli thyng in erthe is transmutable, pba
Feynt & vnseur your domynaciouns, 1872 even your own
Chartre* is ther non to make hem perdurable.
Sorwe at departyng your bodies corumpable,
A thyng rassemblyng that neuer hadde be,
Record on Scipiouns be guerdouns rassemblable 1876
Off them that doon for any comounte.
Trusteth neuer in your oppynyouns, rapt i
But that your poweer is ech day remeuable. aot tile
Beeth nat maad blynd in your discreciouns, 1880 yourselves to |
But considreth bexaumples resonable to the play
The pley of Fortune lik hasard retournable
With sodeyn chaung of fals felicite,
Voto the guerdouns daili comparable 1884
Of them that doon for any comounte.
g Explicit lenvoye.
1858. her be H.
1859. ye]
1870. peiseth remembrith H.
asa Chartre] Charite B, R, H, Cherite J, Chartyr H 5, Chartre
3, P.
638 Tbe Story of Hannibal of Carthage [ BK. Vv
[How Duk Hanyball aftir many victorious dedes
moordred himsilf with poison. ] !
Lond agtrael es EXT [in ordre] to Bochas, as I reede,
mre hated we Out of Affrik & Cartage, berwithal
daunted their Ther cam a duk pat hadde most hatrede 1888
power, next
appeared before Ageyn the Romeyns in especiall,
This famous prince callid Hanyball,
Bi whos prowesse, as it is weel knowe,
The. seid Romeyns wer dauntid & brouht lowe. 1893
Not only did
hit horoscone ~‘ANd among othir worthi dukes alle,
oe As olde cronicles make mencioun,
Of Hanybal the fate is so befalle,
At his berthe bi disposicioun, 1896
That of his natural constellacioun
Set in the heuene, that he sholde bee
Perpetueli enmy to Roome the cite.
but when a boy As the stori of hym doth deuise, 1900
he swore that
eee * Whil his fader, duk whilom of Cartage,
of Rome. Callid Amulchar dede onys sacrifise
To his goddis, & he nyne yeer of age,
Swor & avowed, of herte & of corage, 1904
Duryng his lyff withoute excepcioun
Euer to been enmy vnto Roome toun.
Me rae tte op This Martis child, this lusti yonge kniht
cacanake who, Was to Cartage the strong[e] myhti wall, 1908
Bie facets Which succeedid in his fadris riht
Afftir the deth of worthi Hastruball.
First he made a werre ful mortall
Geyn Saguntynoys, as It is specefied, 1912
Cause with Romeyns that thei wer allied.
dreamt that he A drem he hadde; & was thus in sentence: [p. 282]
pesin and That he sholde conquere in bataille,
Maugre al tho that stoden at diffence, 1916
Too myhti contrees, first Spaigne & than Itaille,
Doun descendyng with gret apparaille,
Passyng the famous ryueer Iberius,
And wher he rood alway victorious. 1920
1899. enmy] om. H.
1902. Amilchar P. 1904. avowed] avo R.
1910. the] his R. 1912. i nae
1914. thus] this H, R 3, thys
1919. hiberus H, R 3, Iberous P
1 MS. J. leaf 114 recto.
BK. V | The Story of Hannibal of Carthage 639
With hym of Affrik many cheuenteyns Sedeotahet tae
Rood thoruh Gaule, fond no resistence, coming: ne
Of Pirenes bi the hih mounteyns through Gaul
To shewe the rigour of his magnificence, 1924 the Alps into
Quer the Alpies be sturdi violence,
Natwithstondyng the passage was ful wikke,
Of slidyng frostis & of snowis thikke.
A gret[e] parti of his men he* loste 1928 [osing many of
Bi the constreynt of that fell passage, apie
Hors, olefauntis, that many besaunt coste, the passage.
Fond gret daunger off them in his cariage.
Assaut of brigauntis, whan thei fond auauntage; 1932
And as Bochas put in remembraunce,
Felte gret losse of al his ordenaunce.
The Alpies passid with trauaile & gret wo, Seeing |
This Hanybal with al his cheualrie _ 1936 Pe oetegee at
Approched 1s the ryueer off the Poo, Pavia,
Cam to a toun that callid is Cursie,
Which stant upon the cite of Pauye,
Wher a consul named* Scipioun 1940
Gaff hym bataille euene affor the toun.
The same consul, Gneus Scipioun, ’
Which bi prowesse* of manli Hanyball
Was disconfited, as maad is mencioun, 1944
Tofor Pauye hadde a mht foulle] fall:
The first victorie in especiall
That he hadde beyounde the mounteyns,
Whan he purposed* tassaile the Romeyns. 1948
Sempronyus, a-nother consuleer, Se ane
That was felawe to said[e] Scipioun, bo hed been
Sent eek fro Roome with a ful proud cheer against him.
Geyn Hanyball; but in his comyng doun 1952
Tofor Tresbie, a large myhti toun,
Outraied was bi fatal auenture
And aftir neuer myhte his fall recure.
1923. Rood} And R.
1928. men he] peeple B, R, J, P. 1931. Fond] And R.
1938. toun] hil P — Cursie] Curye H, Curey R 3, Currye H 5,
icinie P.
1939. upon] nighe P. 1940. named] callid B, J, R, P.
1943. prowesse | processe B R, j 1945. foule} full R.
1948. purposed] pursued B, R, J.
1951. frof to R.
1950. the seyd R.
640 The Story of Hannibal of Carthage
Off too consuleris this was the wooful fyn,
Sempronyus & Gneus Scipioun.
Quer the mounteyn callid Appenyn
Wente Hanybal, thoruh his hih renouz,
To gret damage & gret confusioun
Of his peeple that passid the mounteyns,
Destroied with cold, gret snowh & hidous reyns.
He then crowed Loste his knihtis, his tresours & his goodis,
where many of Ther myht as tho be maad[e] no diffence;
ml secidest ad His grete steedes drowned in the floodes
himself escaped Bi the watris myhti violence,
on ist coca’ Fond for the tyme no bettir resistence,
sa ha Sauf he eskaped fro that sodeyn wrak,
Of an olyfaunt, he ridyng on the bak.
So importable was his greuous peyne,
Onli born up of marcial corage,
Yit ther he lost oon of his eyen tweyne,
Kept of knihthod o cheer & o visage.
Arerwards be =Thortuh Itaille heeld alwey his passage,
slew Flaminius. Slouh a consul callid Flamynyus;
Thus in thre batailles he was victorious.
Quite F Fabius, But in this while, as seith myn auctour,
seeing | pode Quyntus F abius, subtil & deceyuable,
could conquer Which was in Roome a famous dictatour,
im, invented
a new method And he apparceyued* be toknes ful notable,
n e e
ambush and o Romeyn capteyz was in tho daies able
Suh mad” No Romeyn captey tho d ble,
barising: As it was shewed be experience,
Geyn Hanybal to make resistence.
Yit in his conceit he subtili gan serche;
To fynde a weie he dede his besi peyne,
Day be day gan felli theron werche,
Outher be fraude or sum compassid treyne
To ligge await & secreli ordeyne
Enbusshmentis to his auauntages,
Of Hanybal to stoppe the passages.
1959. hih] gret R. 1961. passid] om. R.
1972. lost he
(BK. v
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1980. re cy Which H, R 3, H 5, P— apparceyued ] apper
teyned B.
1984. Yit] a oo — his] this R
1985. he] om.
BK. V | Tbe Story of Hannibal of Carthage 641
But al his treynys seruid hym of nouht; ba pel
For Hanybal, this worthi Affrican, 1992 plish little; and
In his conquest so prudentli hath wrouht, became less
So lik a prince & a knihtli man, able to.
Fro thilke tyme that he werris gan | iene
Ageyn the Romeyns, bothe on se & lond, 1996 POW:
That thei wer feeble his poweer to withstond.
This Quintus Fabius kept hym alway cloos, [p. 283] Puintes Fabius
Liggyng await to falle on Hanyball; innate
And of assent eek to his purpos 2000 assisted by
Ther was oon Varo, manli & wis withal.
And so thes tweyne in especial,
Withynne Poile, a large gret contre,
Fauht with Hanybal at Kannes the cite. 2004
As the stori maketh rehersaile, raed
The Romeyn parti, of worthi werreiours evoanes
Wer fourti thousand slay/e]n in bataille:
Emylius Paulus, thretti senatours, 2008
Twenti in noumbre that hadde be pretours,
And thre hundred capteyns of estat,
Slayn be Hanybal in that mortal debat.
And bi the slauhtre of Emilius, sora nee a
The noble consul, Romeyns disespeired.
And Hanybal, that day victorious,
To his loggyng is ageyn repeired,
His foon outraied & mortalli appeired, 2016
Knew no refut ageyn this manli kniht,
But at myscheeff took hem to the fiiht.
The which[e] day, yiff that Hanybal fled ores
Hadde hem folwed proudli to the toun, 2020 apse ioe
Bi the counseil of oon Marthabal, his chance of
entering Rome.
A manli kniht, a prince of hih renoun,
He sholde haue had ful pocessioun
That day of Roome, lik to his entente, — 2024
But I suppose Fortune list nat assente.
In this processe, pleynli, as I reede, realitart abvale
This Hanybal wex proud & nht pompous,
Of foure victories dempte hymsilf in deede 2028
1991. arg thes R. : H, _
2997 5 eer] prowesse 35
Cannas a » P, Cannes H 5, Cames H, i, ee R 3.
Soir. be] with R. 2013. disepeired R.
2019. day] hanyball R. 2021. Mataball H. 2027. &] om. R.
642 The Story of Hannibal of Carthage
Aboue al othir to be most glorious,
Of his corage most inli surquedous.
But, o alas, a litil slouthe & pride,
For lak of pursut, his conquest set aside.
although Yit in his conquest, of knihtis that lay ded,
during the
course ofthe Of consuleris old & yong of age,
war
lain so many With senatours, the processe who list reed,
oman s
that three Slayn in the feeld[e] in that mortal rage,
with their gold Duk Hanybal sente to Cartage,
rings were ie
home to Of cleene gold, be record of writyngis,
Carthage. Out of the feeld thre busshel ful of ryngis.
Fortune now = A ftir foure victories heer remembrid,
unfavourable. Bi and bi the processe, who list see,
In which[e] many worthi was dismembrid,
Bothe of Affrik & Roome the cite,
Abate gan the gret prosperite
Of Hanybal be froward auenture:
Set onys bak, hard fortune to recure.
Cinteris at Aftir the flouris of his felicite,
great luxury, His noblesse drouh to declynacioun.
To Capue he wente, a myhti strong cite,
Ther to soiourne, as maad is mencioun,
Al the tyme of wyntres cold sesoun,
Wher to his lust & bodili plesaunce,
Off al vitaille fond gret habundaunce.
his soldiers lost Which made his knihtis slouh vnto the werre;
much ‘i their F d ¢ : 7
martial power
through-overs. oe wyn, wommen and plente of vitaile
indulgence; Ful offte sithe cause men to erre,
Make hem feeble ther enmyes to assaille:*
Gorges agroteied, enboced ther entraille,
Disposeth men rather to reste & slepe,
Than of ther enmyes for to taken keepe.
and in the
But whan wyntir with his frostis colde
ean ee to lay Was ouergon in thilke regioun,
tee to Rome, Hanybal gan his purpos holde,
by the rain, TO leyn a siege vnto Roome toun.
But so gret reynys fill from heuen dour,
So gret[e] tempest vpon eueri side,
For the constreynt he myht[e] nat abide.
2031. o] om. H. 2036. in] on H.
2047. his}hirH. 2049. Capua P.
2057. to assaille] tassaille B, fo heger? au R
2058. Egroteied , engrosed R 2066. pon}
[ek. v
2032
2036
2052
2056
BK. V } The Story of Hannibal of Carthage 643
To fortefie, the said[e] Hanybal,
Ageyn his enmyes wher he hadde a-doo,
Sente lettres vnto Hastrubal,
In riht gret haste for to come hym too.
But Fortune hir wheel hath turnid so,
That Hastrubal, wher he was loth or fayn,
Be Salynator venquisshed was & slayn.
Of which[e] myscheeff & disconfiture
Hanybal gan dulle in his corage,
Compleyned sore of this mysauenture,
Knew no refut ageyn this mortal rage,
Herd eek seyn that Affik & Cartage
Were of newe, to his confusioun,
Strongli werreyed be worthi Scipioun.
Siphax also of Numedie kyng,
Which ageyn Romeyns gan a werre make,
Maugre his myht & al his fel werkyng
Was bi force of Scipioun Itake,
Wherthoruh his corage gretli gan a-slake.
And how Cartage, cheeff of that regeoun,
Beseged was also be Scipioun.
Thus Hanybal constreyned was of neede
Hom to repeire for rescus off Cartage,
And was also, in bookis as I reede,
The same tyme falle ferre in age,
And at myscheeff & gret disauauntage
Ageyn Scipioun ful lite[l] myht auaille,
Bi whom he was sconfited in bataille.
Cartage constreynid of necessite,
Them to submitte vnto Roome toun;
And for ther mor hard aduersite,
Gneus Seruilius was fro Rome sent doun,
Onli of purpos for this conclusioun:
For to procure in especiall
Fynal destruccioun & deth off Hanyball.
Afftir al his marcial labours,
His old felicite wex froward & vnmeete,
In holuh images put al his tresours,
2088. be] of H. 5. scomfited H.
2097" vay Cayus P—
2103. Ald ie R.
zg and failed of
2068 his reinforce-
ments, o
to the ies
and death of
Hasdrubal.
2072
This, er
with cee:
2076 ¢ ae ching” was
Carchege Pare eg
Sybex
prisoner,
dulled his
2080 COUTABE-
[p. 284]
2084
2088
Compelled to
return home
to rescue his
ae and grown
cae by
2092 Scipio;
and after
2096 Cy had
surrendered,
2100
he hid his
wealth in hollow
images and
at04 went to Crete,
— Seruilius] Geruilius R — fro rome was
644 The Death of Hannibal
Took his passage into the lond of Creete,
Found* Fortune contrarie & vnsueete,
Made officeeris keepyn his richesse
In the temple of Diane the goddesse.
eng ahterwards Sumwhat for trust & parcel eek for dreede,
ris ei se To fynde socour he wente [un]to the kyng
threatened by Of Bithynye to helpe hym in his neede,
Callid Prusias; but of his komyng
The sleihti Romeyns hadde knowlechyng:
To Bithynye doun ther lettres sente,
“Yif Hanybal scape, echon ye shal repente.”’
fortrenin which Lhe lettres radde, the kyng the same day
Hunnibal bed ~Made his peeple besege the dongoun
Wher duk Hanybal of truste allone lay.
Al destitut whan he knew this tresoun,
Tescape his enmyes drank wilfulli poisoun,
Ches rather so, sith othir escap was noon,
Than in the handis to fallyn of his foon.
Fannibal. seeing ‘Toforn his deth[e] saide this orisoun,
y2t popeicss. To alle the goddis deuoutli doun knelyng,
praying the That thei wolde of this fals tresoun
vengeance on 1 ake vengaunce on Prusias the kyng,
es Which was cause, bi his fals werkyng,
Of [the] destruccioun and the deth fynall
Of this niht famous worthi Hanyball.
[Lenvoy. |
ee ae HIS tragedie froward to write or reede
Siegert Of this forseid manli Hanyball,
braresy ot My penne quook, myn herte I felte bleede,
For to beholde the woful pitous fall
Of hym that was the diffensable wall
Of Cartage, the stronge myhti toun,
Which slouh hymsilff be drynkyng of poisoun.
2107. Found] And B, R, J, P.
2111. unto fe R, J, P. 2112. his} this H, R 3.
2116. ye] thai H.
2117. The] Thes H.
2120. this| his R
2129. Istt
2130. hastruball H.
2108
2112
2116
2124
2128
2132
2136
e] om. Hy, R, R 3, H 5 — 2nd the] om. J, P.
BK.V] The Fate of Prusias, Betrayer of Hannibal 645
It was to hym, he thouhte, mor manheede ks hers fl
To slen hymsilff be vengaunce most mortall, to slay himeelf
an to
Than his enmyes be constreynt sholde hym leede 2140 thrall to his
In cheynys bounde, he to be [ther] thrall.
So gret despiht he hadde of hem at all,
That leuer he hadde, than bide in ther prisoun,
To moordre hymsilf be drynkyng off poisoun. —2144
: : es It seems to me
As me seemeth, in this horrible deede eee cane
He rassembled the furies infernal; bneror the
: uries of the
Of cruel Pluto I trowe he took his meede, lower regions.
° . He received his
Voide off resoun, [he] becam bestiall. 2148 reward of Pluto.
At whos terrible feste funerall,
Goddesse Proserpyna cam with manes doun,
The same tyme whan he drank poisoun.
Noble Princis, considreth & take* heede, 2152 Noble Princes,
% P ‘ remember that
Leuyng the surplus his deedis marciall, a self-inflicted
; ; : death by poison
Knihtli remembreth, & hath in herte hatreede is abominable to
e e e e an m
Of his empotsownyng in especiall,
Abhomynable to God & man withal, 2156
That a prince so famous of renoun
Sholde moordre hymsilff be drynkyng of poisoun.
[How Prusias kyng of Bethenye betraied Hanybal
and wolde haue disherite his sone & heir went a
beggyng in straunge landys. | !
LWYNG in ordre ther cam to Bochas te
Of Bithynye the grete myht[y] kyng, aig, Biya
Which in his tyme was cal[liJd Prusias, Hannibal
Gretli slaundred & noised of o thyng,
That he was fals & double in werkyng,
Ageyn the noblesse of his estat rotall, 2164
Because that he betraisshed Hanyball.
This defaute dirked the brihtnesse [ps 285] 286 cherby
Of his fame & his knihtli renoun, . aah a
And eclipsed his passid old prowesse 2168 Alas that
Bi report in many a regeouz. sheuld evens
Alas, that euer the condicioun cae
Of doubilnesse bi falsnesse or feynyng,
Sholde be founde, a[nd] namli in a kyng! 2172
2141. their] om. R. 2148. he] om. R, J.
2150. be goddesse H. 2152. ake taketh B, J.
2155. enpoisoun
2162. alsundred | disclaundad H, dyslandryd H s.
1 MS, J. leaf 116 recto.
646 The Fate of Prusias, Betrayer of Hannibal [BK. Vv
This Prusias OFF this Prusias ferther to proceede,
a son
called .., Which geyn Hanybal wrouhte this tresoun,
whom he A sone he hadde callid Nichomeede,
deprive of his Born to* been heir be iust successioun. 2176
eritage
But his fader bi fals collusioux
Purposed hym, for he was yong of age,
To putte hym out of his heritage.
because he had’ In this mateer ther greuh up a gret striff 2180
a second wife. Bi Prusias [a]lgeyn this Nichomeede,
Cause that he bi his seconde wiff
Hadde a yong sone, in bookis thus I reede,
Whom he purposeth to preferre in deede, 2184
For which he caste, bi short conclusioun,
Off Nichomeede the destruccioun.
And for tacomplisshe this froward fals mateer,
Bi ful gret deliberacioun 2188
Kyng Prusias gan shewen heuy cheer
Geyn Nichomeede, seekyng occasioun
To depryue hym off pocessioun,
Afftir his* day, bi sotil fals werkyng, 2192
In Bithynye he shal nat regne as kyng.
what ie wae” Lhe peeple seyng this gret iniquite
PNiconcice? Wrouht bi the kyng geyn good[e] conscience,
Thoruh al the lond, of hih & louh degre, 2196
To Nichomeede, alle of o sentence,
Gaff ther good will and ther benivolence,
For eueri lord and eueri gret baroun
Stood hool with hym thoruh al the regioun. 2200
who was
crowned king 1 hus bi iust title he was crowned kyng.
by just title; .
by just tide; |, Prusias for shame & heuynesse
for hi
eee rain In straunge contrees lyued be beggyng,
lands. Such is Al desolat cried for almesse. 2204
treaton and Loo, heer the eende of tresoux & falsnesse! —
ae Laft* at myscheeff, myn auctour seith the same,
Of pouerte forsook his owne name.
bot for his Seeth heer too thynges, & taketh riht good heede, 2208
injustice to = Of Prusias thunwar sodeyn myschaunce,
Nicomedes and
his treachery to [he disherityng doon to Nychomeede,
Hannibal.
2176. to] be B. 2181. geyn J, R, H, R 3, Hs.
2187. for] om.H,R3, P. 2192. his] this B, £, P
2194. gret]om. H. 2199. 1st eueri] euere R.
2200. the} pat R. 2206. Laft] Last B. 2209. chaunce H.
BK.V] The Fate of Persa who potsoned bis Brother
Aftir folwyng on hym the grete vengaunce,
As the stori put in remembrance,
For tresoun doon odible & mortal
Ageyn the forseid famous Hanybal.
647
2212
[Ho[w] Persa of Macedoyne kyng that enpoisoned
his* brothir/ was bi Emylyus outraied & deied
in prisoun. |!
ESPREYNT with teris, pitousli weping,
As Bochas sat in his studie allone,
Next cam Persa, of Macedoyne kyng,
And mortalli he gan sihhe & grone
And furiousli for to make his mone,
That he whilom was of so hih renoun,
Constreyned afftir to deien in prisoun.
This said[e] Persa of nature was froward,
Euel disposed eek of condicioun.
Thouh he of berthe was but a bastard,
He compassid bi fals collusioun
Afftir his fader to haue pocessioun,
As myn auctour remembreth be writyng,
Of Macedoyne to be crowned kyng.
His fader Phelipp, the stori tellith thus,
Hadde a sone which was yong of age,
Wis & redi, callid Demetrius,
Born & begete treuli in mariage.
But Persa caste bi furious outrage
Hym to destroie & moordre be poisoun,
He of that kyngdam to haue pocessioun,—
Falsli compassed* to his auauntage,
In his entent Demetrius to depriue
Of Macedoyne, which was his heritage.
And therupon he lettres gan contryue
To preeue hym tre[iJtour whil he was alyue.
Wherof kyng Phelipp gretli was annoyed,
That he & Persa sholde be destroied
2217. Persa] Persius P.
2219. foriously R. 2220. ae gret R.
2222. Persius P. 2224. he of berthe] of birth he H.
2236. compassed ] compasseth B.
2237. his] this H. 2240. on live H.
2241. annoyed | Enoied H.
1 MS. J. leaf 116 recto; his ts repeated.
Persa, king of
acedonia,
2216 4ppeared
sighing and
doce Bochiae:
for, in spite
of his great
renown, he died
2220 12 Prison.
He was evil-
disposed and a
bastard, and in
order to be-
2224 come king
2228
procured the
death of his
ung brother
metrius, the
rightful heir,
2232
by telling Philip,
his father, that
he was a
traitor.
2236
2240
648
Philip then
Cause
The Fate of Persa who potsoned bis Brother (BK. Vv
Be Demetrius, that thouhte no damage,
Demetrius to be Mente non harm in his oppynyoun; 2244
zin by powwon. Vit his fader, suspecious of corage,
As* Persa gaff hym fals enformacioun,
Made hym be slayn be drynkyng of poisoun
Vpon a day, a thyng abhomynable, 2248
Afterwards when
he knew the
truth he died
of grief, and
Persa usurped
the crown,
and, allyin
himself wit
Greece and
Thrace, began
&@ war against
Rome.
Emilius was
sent against
him, and
before the
battle, seeing
hie daughter
weep,
discovered
that it was
for her whelp
called Persa,
which had just
died; and this
her father felt
sure was &
good omen.
Sittyng at mete at his fadris table.
Kyng Phelipp aftir, whan he knew the trouthe,[p.286]
Hadde of his deth[e] gret compassioun,
But al to late; & that was ful gret routhe.
Which caused aftir his owne destruccioun, —
For sorwe deide; and of presumpcioun,
Persa afftir, falsli vsurpyng,
In Macedoyne was c[o]rownid kyng.
2252
2256
With dyuers contrees made his alliaunce,
In Grece, &* Trace gat freendes nih & ferre,
And of pride & wilful gouernaunce
Caste with Romeyns for to holde werre.
Vngrace & youthe made hym for to erre,
Til a consul sente fro Roome toun
Brouhte this Persa to destruccioun.
2260
Callid Emilius was this consuleer, ° 2264
Sent ageyn Persa to haue a gret bataille.
Seyng his douhtir heuy of hir cheer,
Whan he wente oute his enmyes to assaille,
Made vnto hire this vnkouth apposaille: 2268
“Whi weepe ye so? What thyng doth you greeue,
At my departyng takyng of me leue?”’
“‘Fader,” quod she, “& ye taken heed,
A whelpe I hadde that dede me gret plesaunce, 2272
Callid Persa, the which riht now is ded,
And this cheef cause onli of my greuaunce.”
Hir fader thanne gan chaungen contenaunce:
“This a tokne, to myn encres of glorie,
That I of Persa shal hauen the victorie.”
2276
2246. As] And B, R, J, P— Persius P.
2256. corownid] crownid H, R, J, R 3, P, corownyd H 5.
2258. & jin B, R, J, R 3,H 5 — frendis gat H.
2262. fro]toR.
2266. heuy]om.H. 2268. opposaile H.
2272. meljom. R, J.
2273. Persius P. 2274. this] thes R.
»
se
BK. Vv ]
In Macedoyne he & Persa mette,
And quit hym ther lik a manli kniht,
The Fate of Persa. Asxariab
649
Zmilius put
Perea to flight
ss took him
risoner
Conquereth the lond, non myht[e] hym witbsette, 2280
And manli putte Persa to the fliht;
Afftir to Trace he took the weie riht.
Of which[e] conquest short processe to make,
With his too sonys Persa was ther take.
Emelius aftir this victorie
Axeth the tryumphe vnto his guerdoun;
And as it is remembred in historie,
Persa folweth his* char thoruh Rome toun,
Condempned aftir to deien 1n prisoun.
The which[e] deth he dede weel disserue,
For he be poisoun made his brother sterue.
Thus can Fortune, erli & eek late,
Doun from hir wheel & hir hih[e] stage
Of proude princis the surquedie abate.
Whan to hir lust she seeth most auauntage,
She frowardli can turnen hir visage,
And sodenli thestat of hem consume,
Aboue ther offis that wrongli list presume.
g Amongis which, a kyng of Israel,
Ageyn the presept and lawe of Moises,
Callid Ozias, the Bible kan weel tel,
Of presumpcioun wilful & rek[elles,
To sacrefise put hymsilff in pres,
Lik a bisshop in the temple arraied;
But or he passid he gretli was affraied,
Lost his speche, [and] smet with meselrie
Duryng his lyff: loo, heer a gret vengaunce! —
Off his crowne & his regalie
Inpotent to vse the gouernaunce,
Parcel for pride & disobeissaunce;
For he list nat meekli the lawe obeie,
For which at myscheef he dede a lepre deie.
2278. Persius P.
2288. his] aftir his B, R.
2292. can] cam R.
2295. ee 4 yet R.
2299. Isrell
2306. and]om. R, J, P,R3,H 5s.
2309. Impotent H.
2284
and received the
triumph.
Persa after-
wards died in
he had poisoned
is bro
Fortune is
always able
to curb the
pride of princes
when they
presume above
_ their office,
2296
2292
as did Azariah,
who went into
the temple
2300 dressed as a
bishop and
demanded to be
allowed to make
sacrifice,
2304
for which he
lost his speech
and died a leper.
2308
2312
650
Ammonius, a
and spared
nothing but
women an
drink,
his subjects
rose against
him, and he
fied dressed
as a woman,
and when
caught swore
that he was
one.
But the
people found
out the sear
and killed h
Fortune well
knows how to
punish those
who will not
follow virtue;
but she is to
blame when
she sets an
unknown boy
°
e
[BK. Vv
[How Amonyus a prince of Antioche delityng in
pillage and robbery, with other vicious lyuyng,
fiedde in womammes wede aftir taken and slayn. |!
EXT in ordre, compleynyng his distresse,
Cam Amonyus, a notable werreiour,
To Iohn Bochas to shewe his heuynesse,
‘In Antioche prince & gouernour.
Of which contre whil he was pocessour,
Hadde in custum, & this was his trauaile,
To robbe the riche & spoille the poraile.
Spared nouther old nor yong off age,
Took fro marchauntes tresour & richesse,
And in delites* of lecherous outrage*
Was al his lust, with wach & dronkenesse.
Will in his court of resoun was maistresse,
Causyng the peeple thoruh al the regioun
To rise ageyn hym bi rebellioun.
Ammontus, a wicked Man, slain
2316
2320
2324
Contrarie he was to al good disciplyne;
The peeple aros ageyn hym on a day,
And he for feer, in habite femynyne,
Lik a wrechch fledde cowardli away.
Take at myscheeff, was made no delay,
Falsli confessed*, heeryng many a man,
2328
2332
‘ Ageyn nature that he was a woman.
The trouthe knowe and the sclaundre nf,
Alle of assent the peeple Antiocheene
Ros attonys; and so he loste his lyff,
Thei wer so woode ageyn hym in ther teene.
Thus of Fortune the chaunge is alwey seene, -
Fro bet to wers she can so weel transmue
Thestat of them that wil no vertu sue.
[p. 287]
2336
2340
[How Andriscus of lowe birth born hauyng no title
of Macedoyne kyng was taken and deied in
prisoun. }?
Bul of o thyng Fortune 1s to blame,
That she is so chaungable of corage,
on a throne by To sette a boy, vnknowe of birthe & fame,
rides i
appen to
Andriscue,
Bi fals errour upon a roial stage: 2344
2314. qnonyes 2320. age] ages R, J.
2322. delices B ny ourrage outrages B, J, R.
2332. confessed ] confessyng B, R, J, P.
1 MS. J. leaf 116 verso. 2 MS. J. leaf 117 recto.
BK. V] Andriscus, of low Birth, King of Macedonia 651
For oon Andriscus bi surquedous outrage,
Withoute title, be subtil compassyng,
Of Macedoyne took on hym to be kyng.
Colour was non his cleym to make stable, 2348 Who had no
Except that he of cheer & off visage to Macedon
Was to kyng Phelipp of fetures most semblable, looked like
Wherbi the peeple in ther furious rage Persa's father
Cauhte oppynyouz, of wilful fals dotage, 2352
Ageyn resoun, [as] Bochas doth descryue,
That kyng Phelipp was rise fro deth to lyue,
Whilom fadir to Persa, as I tolde. yee pers
And for Andriscus, brouht up in wrechchidnesse, 2356 Philip had
risen from the
In presence both of yong & old dead; and as
Was bold to cleyme be title of rihtwisnesse, egged on by
Shewyng no ground but personel liknesse, poneion he
Mokkyng the peeple, which bi ther fauour 2360 the throne.
Of roial dignite resceyueth the honour.
Thus he that was fostred as a wrech eile a
In miserie and eek in pouerte, rit te
Fro poore bed his hornis dede up strechche 2364 UP with pride;
To holde a sceptre of kyngli dignite.
And bi the support of the comounte
He gan wexe pompous and elat, —
Brouht up of nouht, whan he stood in estat. 2368
Nothyng mor cruel, nor nothyng more vengable, — nothing is,
more cruel an
Nor mor hasti to execucioun, * ee
Nor mor deynous, nor mor vntretable, set in dignity.
° A cur is more
Than whan a beggere hath domynacioun: 2372 impudent than
a lion.
A curre mor froward than a strong leoun.
And semblabli, non so gret cruelte
As whan a wrech is set in dignite.
This Andriscus in his roial chaieer, 2376 to males
Texecute his hatful cruelte ageinst Home:
Gadred peeple in contres ferr & neer
In Macedoyne; & of old enmyte
Began maligne geyn Roome the cite. 2380
But to withsette his froward fals entent,
Oon Iuuencius, a pretour, was doun sent.
2353. as] om. R.
2354. rise] rysen R. 2355. to]of R. 2358. be] H
2370. execucioun],doo execucioun B, do execucioun
2378. plis H. 2380. ageyn H. 2381. fals] om.
2382. Iuuentus P.
652
Juventius. a
prztor, wae
sent against
him and
defeated,
because of his
vainglory.
Metellus then
eet on him
and took him
risoner to
ome.
Thus he was
chastised for
being proud and
disdainful in
his prosperity.
There was once
a king of
Syria called
Alexander
Balas.
After Antiochus
Eupator was
set aside
The Fate of Andriscus. Alexander Balas [BK.V
But because that he was necligent,
And of despiht{e] took of hym non heede,
He was outraied, & bi Andriscus shent,
With al the peeple that he dede leede.
But the Romeyns, of hope bet to speede,
Han sent Metellus, a ful manli kniht,
To Macedoyne to meete [hym] anon mht.
2384
2388
This worthi man list nat longe tarie,
Set proudli on in hope it sholde auaille,
Made Macedoyne to Roome tnbutanie,
Took Andriscus manli in bataille,
Brouht hym to Roome with myhti apparaille,
And made hym lyn fetrid in prisoun
For his outraious fals presumpcioun.
2392
2396
Thus for his froward vsurpacioun,
That he was hawteyn in his prosperite,
Knew nat hymsilff thoruh fals abusioun,
Blent with a myst of blynd felicite,
List nat remembre of his first pouerte,
Whom to chastise Fortune brouht(e] lowe, *
Because he list nat hymselven for to knowe.
[How Alisaundre ballas kyng of Surre for extor-
cioun pride and vnkyndenesse deied atte mis-
cheef. | !
HUS kan this ladi pleyen hir paient
Bi a maner of deynous mokerie,
Hir entermes forth serue hem of entent,
To folk that truste hir onli of folie.
And to purpos, — whilom of Surrie
Ther was a kyng, lik as writ Bochas,
Callid Alisaundre, whos surname was Ballas.
Of which Ballas to telle the processe,
First of his risyng & aftir of his fall:
Anthiochus, the stor berth witnesse,
2404
2408
2413
. hym] om. R, P.
: ae fell H. 2398. his] hih H.
. fals} his fals H. 2402. lowe] hym lowe B.
. pleyn R.
of] in H, R 3,H 5 — Surrie]sutrieR. 2409. as) aH.
was | 18 H. — whos surname was Ballas} but truly Prom
s P.
re Ballas] Prompalus P.
1 MS. J. leaf 117 recto.
BK. Vv ] The Story of Alexander Balas 653
Callid Eupater, which in especiall
Cleymed title to thestat rotall, |
Afftir his fader named Anthiochus 2416
Epiphanes, the stori tellith thus.
Afftir whos deth the kyngdam of Surrye [p. 288] by Demetrius, a
Sholde longe be successioun Pviphanes,
To Eupater; & eek for his partie 2420
Demetrius, hostage in Roome toun,
Cleymed a title to* that regeoun
Of Surrye, because Epiphanes
Was brothir* to hym, this stori is no les. 2424
Demetrius fro Roome is come doun pnd cad “—
Into Surrye to cleyme his heritage, presumptuous
Resceyueth the crowne [&] took pocessioun,
Gan wexe proud, presumptuous of corage. 2428
Thus Eupater, that was but yong of age,
Excludid was in Surrie to succeede.
Of Demetrius ferther thus I reede:
Outraious he was aboue mesure, 2432 2nd Laie %0
Riht vengable & ful of cruelte, that all_men
Hatful also to eueri creature,
And heuy born of worthi kynges thre;
First in Egipt of worthi Tholome, 2436
And off Attilius in Asie tho regnyng,
And Arirarches in Capadoce kyng,—
Alle of assent ageyn hym han conspired, eeung
Fond a weie Demetrius to depryue, 2440 oe
His vndoyng so sore thei ha[ue] desired. against him
an
And ther entent texecute blyue,
Thei gan a fable of purpos to contryue,
As ye shal heere, togidre as thei wente, 2444
To which al Surrye attonys dede assente.
Thei took a galaunt born of louh lynage, eh
Callid Ballas, of ther aqueyntaunce, named Balas,
And affermede, al of o corage, 2448 that he was
° <8 the son of
How he was sone & iust heir in substaunce Epiphanes and
To Epiphanes, & next heir in alliaunce, pee
To succeede, bi toknis affermyng,
Next 1 in Surrye to be crownid kyng. 2452
2422. to]in B, R, J. 2424. brothir] brouht B.
2427. & om. R. 2436. worthi gret H, R 3.
2437. Acilius Actilius J, R ttalus P.
2438. Ariarathes P. 2447. alas] Prompalus (throughout) P.
654 The Story of Alexander Balas [BK. v
They called __ Alisaundre of purpos thei hym calle,
him Alexander
and made hin Because thei thouhte of persone he was able;
in spite
BS caioge Set hym up in his roiall stall,
Demetrius, he’ Maugre Demetrius, cruel & vengable.
overcame him; And Fortune was to them fauourable,
Made ther purpos fynalli tauaille,
With whom Demetrius hadde a gret bataille.
This Alisaundre, which namyd was Ballas,
Be Demetrius, as put is in memorie,
First ouercome; but* aftir fill this caas,
He of Demetrie hadde the victorie,
An{d] to encres of his roial glorie,
Of fortune be sodeyn auenture
Ballas the feeld dede on hym recure.
but as soon as
he won ont, Thus be promocious of thes kynges thre,
king he became Whan he was crownid kyng of al Surrye,
was ungrateful To fals extorsioun & hatful cruelte
benefactors. This Alisaundre his wittis dede applie,
Teo robbyng, pillage and eek tirannye,
And despised, shortli to conclude,
The said[e] kynges of ingratitude.
He no longer He hadde forget his staat of pouerte,
knew himsel
ee married Knew nat hymsilff, of fals ambicioun
Prolemy'e Weddid* the douhtir of myhti Tholome,
Callid Cleopatra, as maad is mencioun.
And al his labour in conclsioun
Was onli this, in Bochas as I reede,
Al the kyngdam[ys] aboute hym to posseede.
arc covered all Who al coueiteth, sumtyme al doth leese;
Seite Oon ageyn alle hath seelde souereynte.
made war on And for Ballas frowardli gan* cheese
kings. To holde werre with kyng Tholome,
And with the forseid worthi kynges thre,
Alle off assent[e] haue such weies souht,
That be ther werkyng he was brouht to nouht.
Rolemy 20k First Tholome from hym took his wiff,
from him and Cleopatra, & gaf hir in mariage
gave her to
one Demetrius, To oon Demetrie, — ful gret striff,
2461. Demetrius] Detryu
2462. oucrcomen B, J— ddr & B, R, J, and P.
2476. Weddid] Weddith B, R, J, R3.
2480. kyngdam R. 2483. gan] can B.
2456
2460
2464
2472
2476
BK. Vv | An Envoy on Ingratitude
For he that tyme was but yong of age;
But Ballas aftir, be ful gret outrage,
With al his poweer, gadred nih & ferre,
Geyn Demetrie gan to holde werre.
Togidre mette proudli in bataille,
Ballas constreyned cowardli to flee; |
And whan he sauh his poweer dide faile,
In Arabie, a myhti strong contre,
Zabidus, a prince of gret pouste,
Took hym be force, he quakyng in his dreed,
To kyng Tholome sent anon his hed.
Men may too thynges considren in this caas:
Pride pun[y]shed and vnkyndenesse,
And presumpcioun, in this man Ballas,
Withoute title or cleym of rihtwisnesse
Maad kyng of Surrie, set in gret worthynesse.
What was his eende? ye get no mor of me, —
His hed smet of & sente to Tholome.
Lenvoye.
HIS tragedie doth naturalli compleyne
Vpon this vice callid vnkyndenesse,
Which to puz[y]she is torment non nor peine,
Rigour condigne, flagelle nor duresse,
Enprisownyng nor non erthli distresse,
at may sufhse, breeffli to conclude,
Ageyn the vice of ingratitude.
Alle creaturis on this vice compleyne,
Lawe, nature decrees rihtwisnesse;
This monstre in kynde doth the liht desteyne,
Of eueri vertu dirketh the brihtnesse.
Alisaundre can bern herof witnesse,
Which to his foorthris, he of techchis rude
Shewe[d] ageynward gret ingratitude.
2498. contre] Cite H.
655
2492
whom Balas
attacked, but
was to
2496 flee to Arabia,
where he was
slain and his
head sent to
Ptolemy.
2500
[289]
No punishment
is too severe
for ingratitude.
2512
It darkens the
2516 brightness of
every virtue.
2520
2500. This line 1s ee bar the next to last of preceding stanza H.
2521. forthereris rthereres H, J, furthers
his R, J.
— of] of
656
The treble
chain of
Cerberus, the
hunger and
thirst of
Tantalus, the
torments of
Ixion and
Typhon, were
insufficient to
chastise those
who are
ungrateful to
their old
friends.
Noble Princes,
do not allow
ungrateful folk
to approach
you; no vice
1s more hateful
than theirs.
I must now
write about
Caius and
Tiberius
Graccus, who
were authors of
great seditione
in Rome.
Caius was
made tribune
in the Roman
year 600,
division of the
pune lands
etween rich
and poor he
caused
dissensions
among the
people.
Than is the vice of ingratitude.
Anothir Graccus, callid the secounde,
Caius and Tiberius Graccbus [BK. Vv
Of Herberus thynfernal treble cheyne,
Nor of Tantalus hunger nor thrustnesse,
Of Ixion or Ticius, bothe tweyne,
Rekne the[{r] turment, remembre ther sharpnesse;
Al wer to litil to chastise or redresse
The hatful vice of them that can delude
Ther freendis olde bi fals ingratitude.
Noble Princis, which in your demeyne
Han gouernaunce of al worldli richesse,
Geyn folk vnkynde looke that ye disdeyne,
Suffre* hem nat haue non interesse
For taproche to your hih noblesse;
For ther is no vice mor hatful to conclude,
2524
2528
2533
2536
[Here Bochas writeth of the rebellions and sedi-
cions in Rome, betwixt Tribunys and comouns. |!
Hoes myn auctour in stories merveilous,
I mut now write the strong rebelliouns
Of Gaivs first & of Tiberius,
And of ther grete hatful sediciouns
Meued in Roome tween tribuns & comours;
And bi ther stryues how thei gan conspire
For tatteyne falsli to thempire.
The yeer sixe hundred be computacioun,
Gayus Graccus maad tribun in that age,
Aftir the cites first fundacioun,
Which turnyd aftir to ful gret damage
Of comoun profht; for bi the* mortal rage,
Tumulte & noise of comouns in the toun,
Caused a gret part of ther destruccioun.
2540
2544
2548
For in departyng of chaumpayne heritages
Atwen the worthi & poore of the cite
2552
Bi egal porciouns, Graccus with fair langages
Hadde gretli meued al the* comounte.
Bi which occasioum, 1n stori men may see,
2556
Was slayn in Roome & lowe leid on grounde.
2523. Cerberus H.
2526. 2nd ther] the R, J.
2535. to] om. R
2524. thrustynesse H.
2533. Suffre] Suffreth B, J.
2540. ther]the R. 2548. the] ther B, R, J. 2551. Thts
stanza 15 transposed with the next R. 2554. hed ther B, R.
1 MS. J. leaf 118 recto.
BK. v | Catus and Tiberius Gracchus
g Aftir this deth of Graccus, as I reede,
Was chose a tribun callid Munycius,
Which fordede the lawes alle in deede
Of olde Graccus callid[e] Gayus.
But he that was named Tiberius,
With help of Flaccus, tribuns of estat,
In the Capitoile began a gret debat.
Thei wer supported bi the comounte,
Bi vois of peeple, the woord of no man knowe;
For Graccus parti hih upon a tre
A trompet stood & proudli gan to blowe,
Which slay[e]n was, & fro the tre doun throwe,
Bi which[e] slauhtre, the book makth rehersaile,
Graccus* wex feeble; his parti gan to faille:
For dreed he fledde into the teritorie
Of Ianus temple, ran up to a tour.
Whan Tiberius, as put is in memorie,
Sauh in the cite he hadde no fauour,
Disespeired knew no bet socour,
Swerd set at brest [in] presence of Mynerue,
Full: purposed afforn hir for to sterue.
Ther stood on bi & drouh his hand abak;
Fro that purpos made hym to declyne.
Thus Graccus parti goth day be day to wrak,
And Flakkus took the temple of Lucyne, —
His sone, his freendis [&] almost al his lyne, —
657
After the death
of the second
Gracchus,
Caius’ laws
2 560 ¥ were repealed
by Mancinus,
and Tiberius
and Flaccus
revolted,
2564
supported by
the commons,
but were forced
to flee.
2568
Tiberius took
2572 refuge in the
temple of
Minerva;
2576
and Flaccus and
his pany lor
took themselves
2580 to the temple
of Lucina,
where they
were alain.
Thei kept them strong; but maugre ber diffence 2584
The1 wer ther slayn be sturdi violence.
Whil Graccus freendis fauht for his partie,
And he hymsilff constreyned was for* dreed
To preye a boy of his cumpanye,
To take a suerd & smyte[n] of his hed.
Set on a spere with the blood maad red,
Sent it his mooder, compleynyng in hir teene,
Into hir castel that callid was Misseene.
Minucius P. 2560. lawes] lawe H, law R 3.
2559-
[p. 290
Gracchus
prayed a boy
among his
followers ie
smite off his
2588 head, which he
did.
2592
2566. vois] noise H, noyse R 3, H 5 — woord] voice H, vois
R 3, voice P.
2569. tre] gree H.
2571. Graccus] Flaccus B, R, J, R 3, P. Flaccus és corrected to
Graccus i H.
2577. brest] the brest R, H —in] om. R, H, J, H 5.
2582. temple] peeple H.
2585. ther] om. H —sturdi] study R.
2587. for] of B, R, J.
658 The Wife of Hasdrubal, who burnt berself up (BK. Vv
Thus hie. ocia Namyd Cornelia his moder was in deede,
lost all her ==Whilom douhtir to grete Scipioun.
their goods a Hir children alle slay[e]n, as I reede,
to the town. And Graccus goodis achetid to the toun. 2596
Therof afftir maad a dyuysioun
Bi iugement thoruhout[e] the cite,
Wher most was neede among the comounte.
ze so - Of Graccus side fyue hundred slayn & twain* 2600
and, Vpon an hillfe] callid Auentyne.
party, vel whom And Oppynyus, a consul, dede his peyne
nocent. Of ther conspiryng the ground to serche & myne.
And Flaccus parti to brynge to ruyne, 2604
He slouh too thousand bi hasti iuggement,
Amongis which was many an innocent.
[How the wif of Hastrubal brent hirsilf & hir
childre. ]*
Hirst para EER Iohn Bochas in especiall
Ga List to remembre how Cartage newe ageyn 2608
Destroied was, & how [duc] Hasdruball
Cam to myscheeff; the trouthe was weel seyn.
Which to reherse of newe it wer but veyn,
Sith heer-toforn is maad cleer mencioun 2612
Bothe of ther brennyng & ther destruccioun.
and says that Sauff heer he tellith how Hastruballis wif,
wile prelered, Onli teschewen to lyuen in seruage,
nett peters burat Ches with hir childre for to lese hir lyf, 2616
gether wih ber And wilfulli, of furious corage,
young en She and hir sonys, tendre & yong of age,
Among the flawmys & the colis rede
Consumyd were® into asshes dede. 2620
Racis berayed,Dido the firste that bilte that cite
Baur die cy, ‘And made touris & the stronge wall,
burnt herself Which was betrasshed falsly* of Enee,
E Afforn remembred the fires funerall, — 2624
And aftir longe the wif of Hasdruball
Ches rather deie with hir childre tweyne,
Than among Romeyns for to lyue in peyne.
2600. Bebe fyue B, R. 2605. too] too tho H.
2609. duc] om. R, ie Hasdruball] Hanyball H, R 3.
2615. to] & H. 2618. yong & tendre
2620. were] was B, R, J. 2621. and that] pe H, R 3.
2623. falsly} also B, R J.
1 MS, J. leaf 118 verso.
BK.V] ‘fonathan Maccabeus; Demetrius the Second 659
[Off Machabeus Ioathas taken bi the kyng of
Surre. |}
N order suyng, vnto Iohn Bochas 2628 Jonathan Mac-
Ther appeered an heuy man of siht, ri laa
Machabeus the worthi Ioathas,
Whiche ocupied for wisdam & for myht
Offis of prynce, [of] preesthod & of kniht; 2632
Be title.of Iuda of werris took themprise,
Be cleym of Leuy, as preest dede sacrefise.
The lawe of Iewes manli to diffende leg ee
With al the Lond[e] of Promyssioun, 2636 deceit of Try.
This Ioathas ful knihtli dede entende Syria.
Ageyn al enmyes aboute hem enviroun.
Til of Surrye the fals{e] kyng Tryphoun
Be treynys compassed & promys falsli holde 2640
Took Ioathas, of whom riht now I tolde.
Machabeorum is rehersid all, ee
Of his knihthod & his worthynesse, Tyee
With al the tresoums in especiall 2644 you'll get 10.
Wrouht be Tryphon be many gret falsnesse: from me.
His subtil sleyhtis and his doubilnesse, —
Them to reherse, ye gete no mor of me;
For in the Bible the stori ye may see. 2648
[How Demetrius the secounde lost at last his
hede. | ?
VT I will turne to Demetrius ea ie
That callid was Demetrius be secounde, ae
Which bi descent cam from Anthiochus, conloanded the
And bi his manhod, as it was weel founde, 6s2° CO
Dede the pride of kyng Ballas confounde,
Callid Alisaundre, which bi gret outrage
Hadde putte his fader from his heritage.
This Demetrius, famous & notable, 2656 victones ve
Vpon Parthois hadde many gret victorie, helo
Til kyng Arsacides, double and deceyuable, captured by
Hymsilff delityng gretli in veynglorie,
2636. Promyssioun] punysnour H. 2637, 41. Ionathas H.
2659. veynglorie] victorye
1-MS. J. leaf 118 verso. 2 MS. leaf J. 118 verso.
660 The Victssttudes of Demetrius the Second [BK. Vv
Bi his sleihti fraudis deceptorie, 2660
Vndir a shadwe of feynyng & fals cheer
Took Demetrius vnwarli prisoneer.
Arsaces, to his
bane she An to gret sclaundre & hyndryng* of his name,
icading him | Arsacides bamaner moquerye 2664
poor array, Made Demetrius, for despiht & shame,
marry his Poorli arraied, of hate & gret envie
his will. For to be lad thoruhout al Surrye;
Made hym aftir, bi gret auisement, 2668
To wedde his douhtir ageyn his owne entent.
When Arsaces | This Demetrius was kept out of pres, [p. 291]
tried to escape That but fewe hadde of hym [a] siht,
Vnto tyme that Arsacides 2672
Was ded & passed, for al his gret[e] myht.
Than he caste tescape awey be fliht;
And secreli tacomplisshe his entent,
He gat hym counsail that was of his assent. 2676
pegs Gallymandrus, a lord of that contre,
knight called Which that was of his assent in deede,
allimandrus; :
In ther fliht to keepe hem mor secre
Made Demetrius for to chaunge his weede, 2680
And preuy weies foorth he dede hym leede.
But al for nouht; his fliht was but in veyn,
For bi strong pursut he was take ageyn.
put he war Afftir bi constreynt presentid to the kyng, 2684
brought back “That he gan wexe wer! of his lyff,
After their two Kept mor streihtli, folk on hym waityng,
bern es And maugre hym presentid to his wiff,
loosened’, With hir tabide ful heuy and pensyff. 2688
But whan thei hadde childre atween hem tweyne,
To go mor large loosnyd was his cheyne.
tnd three times And thus he hadde space & fre licence
to escape. To gon and comen at his auauntage; 2692
For whil his wiff heeld with hym residence,
The: dempte his childre wer suffisaunt hostage.
But he was euere vnstable of his corage,
With Gallymandrus the forseid[e] kniht 2696
Thre tyme take & brouht ageyn be fliht.
2663. hyndryng & sclaundryng B, R, J.
2671. a R, J. 2677. Callimandrus P.
2679. morjom.H. 2686. awaityng H. 2689. children R,
BK. Vv]
And for he was so dyuers manyfold,
Kyng Fraactes, in tokne he was vnstable,
Sent hym thre dees forgid squar of gold,
To pleye raket as a child chaungable, —
His disposicioun was so variable.
But for to restreyne his condicioun,
He was efft take & fetrid in prisoun.
But whan Fortune hadde youen hym a pull,
Bi many dyuers stra[u]nge aduersite,
To punshe hym mor Pharactes wexeth dull.
And Demetrius of prisoun was maad free,
Ful restored ageyn to his contre,
Wex proud ageyn, of newe it is so fall,
That he was hated of his lieges all.
Cleopatra, his mooder, that was queen
Of al Egipt & wiff to Tholome,
Was with hir lord at striff, who list to seen,
Which turnid aftir to gret aduersite.
But to strengthe hir parti thus wrouht she,
Made hir sone for to take on honde
For hir to fihte ageynfes] hir husbonde.
But Tholomeus callid Euergetes,
Geyn Demetrius diffendyng his contre,
Made Zebenna to putte hymsilf in pres,
Sone of a marchaunt, born of low degre,
To make a cleym bi fals subtilite,
Of al Surrye to haue pocessioun,
For hym aleggyng title of adopcioun.
He to be sone to [old] Anthiochus,
Cleymyng therbi the kyngdam of Surrye,
Onli texclude the said Demetrius.
And Tholomeus, to susteene the partie
Of Zebenna, with al his cheualrie
Gadrid in Egipt & contrees enviroun,
Ageyn Demetrius proudli is come doun.
And Fortune with hir double face
Caused the cuntre bi rebellioun,
That Demetrius stood cleene out of grace;
Wherbi the peeple of al that regeoun
2699. Phrahartes P.
2714. to] om. R. 2719. Euergites
2726. sone] om. H —old] om. R, J.
The Vicissitudes of Demetrius the Second 661
King Phraates,
seeing that he
was as full
’ ae at a
sent him
2100 chree gold dice
to play | racket
him up.
2704
But afterwards
not wanting to
punish him any
more, he let
him out, at
which Deme-
2708 trius became s0
ineufferable
that all his
subjects
him.
Cleopatra, his
mother, was at
strife with her
husband Euer-
getes, and in-
uc
Demetrius to
take her side,
2716 whereupon
Euergetes in-
cited Zebina,
son of a mere
chant, to lay
claim to his
kingdom, and
supporting him
2720 with an army,
2712
2724
2728
2732
drove out De-
metrius and,
the people
willing, made
Zebina king
2736
2700. dies R, oe H. 2710. so]no H.
662 The mischievous End of Zebina the Usurper ([BxK.v
of all Syria.
Demetrius
fought him
ae amd dard
ain defea
and Dosclent pay
Tyre,
where his head
was smitten off
Of what
use
was his pi de?
Zebina, born
of low lineage,
and hardly
more than a
beggar, came
eeping to
Wer hool ageyn hym in ther oppynyoun:
That be Tholomes wonderful werkyng
Zebenna ther resceyued was as kyng.
Thus Zebenna, bi fals intrusioun, 2740
Of al Surrie was maad{e] lord & kyng;
Title was ther non, but collusioun,
Texclude Demetrius bi subtil compassyng.
Yit as I fynde, his parti defendyng, 2744
How Demetnius Zebennza gan assaille,
Ther quarel dareyned with a gret bataille.
Gret peeple slay[e]n vpon outher side,
Demetrius put from his regeoun 2748
And ouercomen, for [al] his gret[e] pride,
At gret myscheeff to his confusioun,
Hauyng no socour nor consolacioun;
But with a fewe chose of his meyne 2752
Fledde be watir to Tire the cite,
ad Lik as he wolde haue luyed ther in pes, _[p. 292]
‘Bi a feynt maner of perfeccioun,
Withynne the temple of myhti Hercules 2756
Vnder a shadwe of religioun.
But sodeynli at his comyng doun
Into Tire & at his arryuaille,
His hed smet of; what myht* his pride [a]vaille! 2760
[How zebenna kyng of Surre bi intrusioun entryng
had mischeuys endyng. | !
UCHYNG Zebenaa, of whom I spak toforn,
Poorli brouht up & of louh lynage,
And of kynreede but a begger born,
Cam tofor Bochas trist off his visage, 2764
Sore weepyng, muet of langage,
Gan compleyne his woful auenture,
Vnwar & sodeyn, impossible to recure.
2739. as}a R.
2746. Ther] pe a 2749. al] om. R.
2752. But haere H.
2753. be] by
2760. His hed ek of] He lost his hede H, R 3, H 5 —myht]
ede
2765. muet] Inuett H.
2767. & Impossible H.
1 MS. J. leaf 119 recto.
BK. Vv] Ibe mischievous End of Zebina the Usurper 663
His condiciouns sumwhat dul & rude,
First in pouert, proud & presumptuous,
Appechid afftir of gret ingratitude
Shewed in his* lyff to kyng Anthiochus,
His firste forthere[r], the stori tellich thus:
For which Anthiochus gretli was anoyed,
Caste a mene bi whiche he was destroied.
Ther was a cosyn that callid was Grispus
To Anthiochus, & of the same lyne,
Which be title off Demetrius
Cleymeth as heyr, be many vnkouth signe,
To regne in Surrye, & proudli gan maligne
Ageyn Zebenna, whos parti to supporte,
Stood Anthiochus cheeff, as I can reporte.
This said[e] Grispus, yong & tendre of age,
Bi the foorthryng & supportacioun
Off Anthiochus, hadde in mariage
His owne douhtir, with gret pocessioun,
That Zebenna, for short conclusioun,
Compellid was, for al his grete myht,
To Anthioche for to take his fliht.
And ther he fill in so gret pouerte,
Failed moneye for to paie wages
The soudiour[e]s, which in that contre
Abide vpon hym of al maner ages,
Straunge folk & sondry of langages,
Theuys, moordrers, mansle[e]rs & pillours, —
First off Iubiter assailyng the tresours
To his disclaundre, perpetuel of memorye,
The diffame aroos so manyfold.
In Iouis temple the baneer of victorie
He took a-way, that was of massiff gold,
With a gret ymage which stood ther of old,
Of gold also, with othir mo tresours,
With which pillage he paied his* soudiours.
Of sacrilege hauyng no conscierice,
Tescape awey he entrid is the se;
But Eolus bi gret[e] violence
With wynd & tempest as he dede flee
2771. his] this B, R. 2775. Griphus P.
2790. wages] his wages H. 2793. folkes R.
2799. massy R. 2802. his] the B, R.
for after his
2768 sodden rise to
chus’ daughter,
d Zebina
an
was forced to
2784 flee to Antioch,
2788
where he be-
came 80 poor
that he turned
robber
2792 -
and despoiled
2796 the temple of
porter to pay
8 men.
2800
Little he cared
oe aecnleee
ut /olus blew
2804 so hard when
he tried to?sail
away, that,he
was caught
664 Evil Conduct causes the Destruction of Kings [BxK. Vv
Dede vnto hym ful gret aduersite.
And al his meyne forsook hym of entent; 2808
And he was take & to Grispus sent,
end taken to K yng of Surrye, to whom whan he was brouht,
sentenced him Gaff on hym be iuggement this sentence:
For sacrilege that he hadde wrouht, 2812
Spoillyng templis be gret violence,
Doyng to goddis no maner reuerence, —
For which Grispus comaundid hath as iuge
That he be slayn; ther was no bet refuge. 2816
2 wretch, as ne Of berthe a boy, clamb up to roial stage,
began. Brouht up of nouht, & set in dignite,
Knew nat hymsilff, wex cruel of corage,
Aroos fro pouert to gret prosperite. 2822
But thoruh Fortunys mutabilite,
That blynde ladi so made hir poweer strechche, —
As he began, so ended* as a wrechche.
eee - Reknid thestatis of worldli regalie, 2824
and covetoue Noumbre of men*, gold, tresour & richesse,
ness have
caused the Stati castelis, paleis on ech partie,
destruction
many a king. Conquest bi Fortune clymbyng to hih noblesse,
Cruel suerd conveied be wilfulnesse, 2828
Poweer extort wib couetise oppressyng,
Cause destruccioun of many erthli kyng.*
But thore who But in contrarie, who list hymsilf to knowe,
eee And is be grace enclyned to meeknesse, 2832
esol upin Thouh he fro pouert in streihtnesse brouht up lowe
rise to, power And i is be vertu reised to worthynesse,
are worthy to. With sceptre of pes & suerd of rihtwisnesse
adana Indifferenthi his doomys demenyng, — 2836
Such oon 1s able to be cleped a kyng.
Envy; flattery, What is cheef cause, grounde & occasioun _[p. 293]
endanger the “That princis offte stonde in iupartie
pce ane Of worldli chaungis in soch dyuysioun, 2840
occasion of | Regnyng among hem the serpent of envie,
many ange’ Symulacioun, feynyng, flaterie,
The sooth out serched, who-so list to look,
Be many tragedie expert in this book. 2844
2822. hir] his H.
2823. so ended ] to eenden so cn R,J,R
2825. men] meyne B, R 2826. ona in H
2830. Cause] auseth zg , pees iy ae thyng B, R
BK. V] Ihe Fate of Bituttus, King of the Auvergnians 665
[How Bitynctus kyng of Auergnatis bi the Romayns
was taken and deied in prisoun. | !
YTINCTUS next, of Auergnatis kyng, pate Fae
Cam tofor Bochas gynnyng his compleynt, meats ovale
Of his distresse the ordre rehersyng, Romans
And how that he was maad feeble & feynt, 2848
Ageyn the Romeyns myscheuousli atteynt,
Natwithstandyng, to meynteene his quarell
He cast of pride ageyn hem to rebell.
But it is first put in remembraunce, 2852 Sic, “cepised
How Auergnatis 1s a nacioun
Hangyng on Gaule, longyng* vnto Fraunce,
Of which Bytynct stood in pocessioum,
Hauyng despiht in his oppynyoun 2856
To the Romeyns any wise tobeie,
But proudli caste ageyn hem to werreie.
His labour was to stonden in fraunchise sag ere
And been at large from ther subieccioum. BB6G, S95 tanh
Gan of pride ther lordshipe to despise, with a small
force,
Gadred peeple of presumpcioun,
Whom for to meete Fabius was sente doun,
A myhti consul, which knihtli took on honde — 2864
For that parti Bituitus to withstonde.
Of whos comyng Bituitus took disdeyn, ove pce
Because the folk which Fabius dide leede that ilies mere
Wer but fewe; & whan he hath hem seyn, 2868 them to feed
He seide of scorn: “this peeple, who taketh heede, eee
May nat sufhse myn houndis for to feede
Whan thei be slayn; to fewe thei been in noumbre,
With multitude that I shal hem encoumbre.” — 2872
An hundred thousand in his vaunwarde he hadde, forever, the
That passe sholde of Auuerne* the ryueer;
And foure score thousand beside that he ladde.
The consul Fabius mette hym with good cheer 2876
Whaz he was passid of Rodamus the daunger,
Fauht al the day til it drouh to niht;
The Romeyns wan; ther foon wer put to fliht.
2845. Bytinctus] Bituitus P (throughout).
2846. begynnyng H. 2854. longyng] longeth B, J, R.
2855. Bityntus H, Bityng R 3, Bytyng H 5s.
2859. stonden] stoden H. 2873. vauntwarde H.
2874. Auuerne] Auuerner B, Auuerneer R, J, awuerne H, R 3,
Auuerne P. 2877. Rhodamus P. 2879. wer] was H.
1 MS. J. leaf 119 verso.
666 The Tyrant Euergetes and Cleopatra bis Wife [BK.v
and killed, At the ryuer, lik as seith the book, 2880
Bircitus was Ther wer drownid & brouht to myschaunce
taken prisoner Fiffti thousand, as thei the watir took,
and died in
chains. Thoruh Fortunys froward variaunce.
And bi a treyne, tencres of his greuaunce, 2884
Bituitus take was of the Romeyns,
Dampnid to prysoun ther to deye in cheyns.
[How the tiraunt Euergetes weddid queen Cleopatras
slouh hir eldist son, exilid his wif, weddid hir
douhter. |}
Sheeae pager FFTIR whos fall, pitous* to reede & seen,
Pee Off Epiphanes* the grete Tholome 2888
next came Cam the douhtir, Cleopatras be queen,
fore Bochas, A °
her white Gan compleyne hir gret aduersite.
cheeks stream-
ing with blood Hur furious sorwe diffacid hir beute,
nt Hir cheekis white, of blood & teris meynt, 2892
Rent with hir handis, wer pitousli bespreynt.
She was the To Philometer she weddid was afforn,
¢e hilo-
metor and had Whilom sone to Tholome the kyng;
two sons, and
after the death And bi hir lord, in trewe wedlok born, 2896
of her husband
married Euer- Too sonys she hadde, as be olde writyng.
rere Afftir whos deth anon vp[on] suyng,
To Euergetes, a prince yong of age,
She was ageyn loyned in mariage. 2900
Pro peeame ~—- Be title of hir in Egipt lord & sire,
title and, like Kyng of that lond, cruel & despitous,
her edest wom Whos stori sheweth no kyngdam nor empire
ding day. May of themsilff make no man vertuous; 2904
For lik a tigre this tiraunt furious,
Hir eldest sone, day of ther mariage,
Born to been heir, he slouh of mortal rage.
Pater on he Nat aftir longe this extort cruelte, 2908
drove her from
Egypt and = Al-be thei hadde childre atween hem tweyne,
Out of Egipt he made hir for to flee,
And of malis gan at hir disdeyne.
2885. Bitinctus R, age H, a J, Bituitus P.
2887, picue Pro pitously R
2888. Epiphones B,
2898. anon vpon] ee vp R, J, R 3, P, vpon anoon H,
anoon vpon H s.
2903. empire] Emperour R.
1 MS. J. leaf 119 verso.
BK. V | The Tyranny of Euergetes
I trowe she hadde mateer for to pleyne!
He took hir douhtir whan that she was gon,
Ageyn nature, & weddid hire anon.
She callid was Cleopatras also;
But Euergetes, to shewe hym mor vengable
Ageyn hir mooder, that was fro Egipt go,
The cite which was to hir fauourable
The peeple exiled, he, wood & vntretable,
In hir despiht[e] gaff that noble toun
Of hatful malis to straunge nacioun.
But whan he knew[e] thoruh his cruel deedis [p.
And gan conceyue how he was coupable,
Sauh ageyn hym the manyfold hatreedis
And conspiraciouns of statis honourable,
He at large to be mor vengable,
Geyn Cleopatras to gynne an vnkouth striff,
Wente into exil with his newe wiff.
Gadred peeple his olde wiff tassaille,
On hir childre to shewe mor vengaunce,
A day assigned, heeld with hir bataille:
But which of hem was dryuen to vttraunce,
Myn auctour pleynli put nat in remembraunce.
But suyng after, thus of hym I reede,
How of malis he wrouhte a cruel deede,
Which to reherse is nouther good nor fair
But terrible & abhomynable: 7
He dismembred hir sone & his heir
On pecis smale, this tiraunt most vengable.
And whan the moodir sat at hir roial table,
With bodi & hed, at a solempnite,
Leet hir be serued of froward cruelte.
Wheroff al Egipt hadde indignacioun;
And for tauenge this cruel gret outrage
Thei took his platis, basnet, haberioun,
And his cotearmour wrouht of gret costage,
Fro ther templis rent out his image,
In tokne he was a tiraunt most atteynt,
Ech thyng diffacid that was of hym depeynt.
2915. Cleopatra P.
2929. olde] new H, »R pn ewe H
2942. froward] hatefull H, hate ul R 3,
2944. this] his R — gret] om. R.
667
2912 eae her
daugh ter
against nature.
the poopie of a
city that was
2916 favourable to
er,
2920
and when he
294 realized how
unpopular he
had made him-
2924 § self, he went
2928 Ceepatra.
I do not know
which of them
won when they
joined battle;
2932
but E tes
2936 dismembered
2944 mation and
threw his
armour and
statues out of
temples.
2948
298 his] hir H, R 3, H 5.
668 The Story of Fugurtba [BK. v
Bochas wrote. Whos hatful story, repleet of wrechchydnesse,
hateful story, Ful of vengaunce & froward myscheeuys, —
patra; for he ‘Therfore I deeme Bochas list nat expresse 2952
to disfigure his Mor of his lyff, fulfilled of al repreuys;
ee Off Cleopatra writ nat the fynal greeuys
In this chapitle, what fatal weie she took,
List the mateer sholde difface his book. 2956
[How Iugurta by* intrusioun of Munedy Kyng
slouh rightful heires and aftir himsilf was
drowned. | !
ateati ae FFTIR this woful dedli auenture
manly man, Off Cleopatras, whos stori is ful old,
a Bochas. He Cam lugurta, be manli maz, to lure,
wit sien And to Iohn Bochas hath his tale told 3960
lightly. Of his conquestis & deedis manyfold;
Subtil off wit, & as myn auctour seith,
Gaff litil force for to breke his feith.
Masinists, bis But in ordre the stor to conveie 2964
son alled Of Iugurta & of his kynreede, —
icipsa, who
was his heir; Masmyssa kyng of Munedie, soth to seie,
His vnkle was; & also, as I reede,
The seid[e] kyng hadde a sone in deede, 2968
Callid Misipsa, eldest be writyng,
Afftir his day born* to regne as kyng.
and after Mas: This Masmyssa ordeyned aftirward,
nissa had de-
prived Jugurtha Toforn his deth, off hool entenciouz, 2972
of the rig
muccension Because lugurta was born a bastard,
use he w
a bastard, and To depruye [hym] off al successioun,
icipsa
king on his In his testament; but in conclusioun,
father's — His sone Misipsa, aftirward maad kyng, 2976
friendly to : Was to Jugurta freendli & louyng.
Aicives nee.
aaa Misipsa hadde too sonys, as I fynde;
herbal and The ton of hem callid Herbales,
. The seconde, the stori maketh mynde, * 2980
Was that tyme namyd Hiemsales.
2956. difface shulde H, R 3, H s.
2958. Cleopatra P. 2959. Jugurtha P.
2966. Masinissa P — Numedye R 3, Numedy P.
2969. Micipsa H, P. _2970. born to] for to B, R, om. J, P.
2978. Micipsa H, sett
2979. Herbales | Harbales R, Adherbales P.
2980. mynde] mencioun R, :
2981. Hyempsales H, Hiempsales P.
1 MS. J. leaf 120 recto; by] of by J.
BK. V | The Story of Fugurtba
With whom Iugurta put hymselff in pres,
For tabide & duelle in speciall,
Lik as ther cosyn in ther court roiall.
Cherisshed ful weel because that he was wis
And riht likli of disposicioun,
Chose afftirward for a synguler pris
To gon to Spaigne to helpe Scipioun
Geyn Numentaynes, a famous myhti toun.
And ther Jugurta so knihtli hath begonne,
That bi his noblesse the toun anon was wonne.
And to remembre his knihthod of entent,
His worthynesse & his hih renoun,
To Micipsa lettres wer doun sent
Bi the forseid worthi Scipioun;
Which gaff so gret a comendacioun
To Iugurta, hym callyng in that werre
Of manli prowesse the yong[e] lodesterre.
Off kyng Micipsa receyued notabhi,
Callid hym sone bi adopcioun;
The kynge ded soone, Iugurta traitourli
Slouh Hiemsales, heir be successioun,
He of that rewm to haue pocesseoun.
This was his custum, how-euer his* title stood,
Bi slauhtre & moordre for to gete good.
He list to goddis do no reuerence, [p.
Of his nature wilful & rekles,
Hauyng nouther remors nor conscience
Touchyng the slauhtre of Hiemsales,
Falsli practised for his owne encres.
For which[e] moordre Romeyns han sent doun
A consuleer to doon correccioun,
Calipurnyus callid, that was sent
Onli to pun[y]she that horrible deede;
But with tresour his eien wer so blent,
Of execusioun that he took non heede.
The Romeyn[e]s ouercome with meede
q ‘
2983. especiall H.
Afterwards he
went to Spain
and won the
town of
Numantia
2988
2992 bighly com
mended by
Scipio.
2996
Micipsa called
ae is ad ned
to
possession of
the realm
himeelf.
3004
He was a reck-
295] less, irreverent
man without
remorse or con-
3008 science.
3012
As a result of
this murder,
Calpurnius
was sent down
to punish him,
but Jugurtha
3016 bought him off,
2989-91 are replaced by the three last lines of the next stanza, the
rest of which ts omitted H.
2989. Mumentaynes R,
dl call clepyng
fie} oh H 3009. Uvempasles
oo ieee touercome R.
, Namantines P.
4. 2nd a the B, R, J, P
670
and next pro-
ceeded to the
murder of Ad-
herbal
causing great
slander and
defame.
h he
cov his
treason under
Hover ane
spent his
treasure freely
on the Senate,
the commons
rebelled,
and 4000 men
were sent from
Rome under
Atilius, a
piace: Take
ked for a
bribe,
and after laying
to the
siege to
tower in which
ugurtha kep
is wealth ad
being defeated,
came to terms,
to his great
ame.
The Story of Fugurtba
Gaff to Iugurta, bi collusioua,
Off this moordre a coloured fals pardoun.
Bi which he took a maner hardynesse
Of tirannye in hym weel exercised,
Gadred peeple, of hatful cursidnesse,
And in hymsilff gan crueli deuise
Texecute the silue same guise
(BK. v
3020
3024
Of fals[e] moordre, — I meene now non othir, —
To slen Herbales, the seconde brothir,
That he allone bi fals intrusioun
Of Numedie myhte be lord & kyng.
Thus of his cruelte, moordre & fals tresoun
The noise was born by langage & writyng,
Of which the griffis, falsli abrod spreedyng,
Brouht[e] foorth in hyndryng of his name
Frut of disclaundre & report of diffame.
Mortal tresoun was curid vndir flours,
To saue hymsilff bi sum subtilite,
And specialli with his gret tresours
Tappese the senat, yiff it wolde ha bee;
But ther ageyn[e]s al the comounte
Made ageyn hym a coniuracioun,
On his fals moordre to do correccioun.
Foure thousand men of armys wer doun sent
With a pretour Icallid Actilius;
The which[e] pretour sette al his entent
To gadre tresour; for he was coueitous:
And couetise is contrarious
Vnto knihthod, as auctours alle expresse,
And stepmooder vnto worthynesse.
A siege he leide aboute a myhti tour,
Wheryn Lugurta put al his richesse.
The siege was leid for loue of that tresour
Mor than for worshepe or for worthynesse;
Wherbi he loste his name & his noblesse.
Ther discounfited, brouht vnto myschaunce,
Affuir for meede made his alliaunce
3023. gan] hath R 3 —crueli] cursidli J, R
deuise | devised H, Meavad R 3, deuysede, H 3.
3026. Harbales R, Adherbal P. 39°, &] & Pi R, .
3042. callid R called P — oes Aulyus H
3049. Wheryn] wheron
3028
3032
3036
3040
3°44
3048
3052
Rs cursedly P—
The Story of Fugurtha
With Iugurta, to his encres of shame,
Caused Affrik thoruh fals[e] cheuisaunce,
Thei togidre disclaundrid be diffame,
Them to withdrawe fro thobeissaunce
Of the Romeyns; & mor themsilff tauaunce,
To ther purpos, coruptid with tresour
Many tribun & many senatour.
BK. v |
Of newe ageyn, al the comounte
Fro Roome sente Gayus Marmius,
For the moordres & horrible cruelte
Wrouht bi Jugurta, the tiraunt furious.
Which to refourme the said Gayus,
A consuler, of purpos was sent doun,
A manli knyht & famous of renoun.
Ful notabli the werris he began,
Wrouht euery thyng of hih[e] prouidence;
And Fortune, which helpeth hardi man,
Gaff hym gret fauour bi hir influence.
And aldirfirst he dede his dilligence
From hym tauoide al that wer vicious,
Delicat peeple & folkis lecherous.
A day was set & taken of bataille;
But* Jugurta bi fals subtilite
Proffreth gret good, which myht[e] nat auaille,
To haue corupt, yif it wolde haue be,
The said Marius; but euer in o degre
He stood ay stable, vpriht as a wall,
And took non heed to his proffre attall.
Than Jugurta, in parti disespeired,
Gretly astonid withynne hymsilff musyng,
Ful* lik a man hyndred & appeired,
He gan purpose anon a newe thyng:
Of Mauritayne he wente to the kyng
To gete helpe, which callid was Boccus,
Hym to socoure ageyn[es] this Gayus.
3058. fro] for R.
3061. 2nd many] many a H.
. Caius P. 3067. Consull H. 307 3.
. hym] om. R. 3075. folkis] folkes pat wer H
. But] Bi B.
. disepeired R.
Ful] But B, R
3085, 98, 104 Gayus] NV aes P.
oe H.
671
Allying himeelf
fe babes
e bri
3056 right and left,
3060
until Gaius
Marius came
down from
Rome to
set matters
3064 straight.
3068
’ At first he was
virtuous and
succeeded, and
kept vicious
ple away
ion him.
3072
rtha offered
3076 ae bribes i in
vain,
3080
and in despera-
a see
wi -
3084 chus, king of
Mauretania.
3088
672
Bochus soon
repented,
and through
Sulla’s
mediation be-
The Death of Fugurtba. Envoy [BK. v
Tween hem was maad of newe an alliaunce, [p. 296]
The whiche laste but a litil space;
For kyng Boccus gan falle in repentaunce, 3092
Caste he wolde resorte to the grace
Off the Romeyns & no mor trespace.
And to parfourme this entencioun,
He made to Gayus this mediacioun: 3096
‘Ther was oon Scilla, callid a questour,
Of Gayus hoost[e] hadde gouernaunce;
trayed Jogurth® For kyng Boccus he was mediatour,
Manus
His kingdom
again became
tributary to
Rome; the
le were
orgiven;
but Jugurtha
almost went
mad with
anger, and the
Romans threw
him into the
That ther was new[e]li accordaunce 3100
Tween hym & Gayus; & bi the puruetaunce
Off this Boccus Jugurta anon was hent,
Maugre his myht, & to Gayus sent.
And al his kyngdam withoute resistence 3104
Geyn to Romeyns cam vnder obeissaunce.
And Marius forgaff them ther offence,
Resceyueth hem vndir assuraunce,
That he shal nat be doom do no vengaunce, 3108
To punshe the trespacis which thei dede afforn,
The space acountid fro tyme thei wer born.
Jugurta taken, almost for anger mad,
Brouhte to Roome & fetrid in prisoun, 3112
To Tarpeia an hih hill he was lad,
Tiber bound to Iugement youe for his fals tresoun,
a@ stone ior 018 °
Bounde to a ston & aftir throwe doun
treason.
Fro the place, ful hih{e] ther he stood, 3116
Withoute merci into Tibre flood.
[Lenuoye. ]
Een Geli HIS may be weel callid a tragedie,
see rites Be discripcioun takyng auctorite;
ooo For tragedie, as poetes spesephie, 3120
Gynneth with ioie, eendith with aduersite:
From hih estat [men] cast in low degre,
Exaumple taken, this story seyn ariht,
Of Iugurta, that was first a good kniht. 3124
Jugurtha was, At his gynnyng famous in cheualrie,
knight, but he Gat Numentaigne, of Spaigne a gret cite;
became covetous
But in repeiryng hom to that partie, —
3109. toforn H. 3115. a doun H.
3122. men] om. R, J, P — men cast] castith men H, R 3, cast
men H5. 3127. to that partie] to his Contre H.
ass ss wr rs ce ee eee -
DP: EE ES A? . we) ee eee eee OE. Ae ‘ae «= EGS
, ee a || ee ee
ae 86,
BK.vV] An Envoy on Fugurtha, once a good Knight 673
I meene whan he cam hom to his contre, —
He chaunged knihthod into cruelte,
With couetise so bleendid was the* siht
Of Iugurta, that was first a good kniht.
His witte, his poweer he hooli dede applie
To hatful moordre, fraude & subtilite,
Bextort title hymsilff to magnefie
Slouh rihtful heires, refft hem ther liberte,
Bi fals intrusioun clamb up to ther see,
And gaff no fors, wher it wer wrong or mht,
A thyng contrary to eueri worthi kniht.
Noble Princis, lefft up your hertis eye,
Withyne your-silff remembreth & doth see
Off this moordre[r] the hatful tirannye,
With oppressiouns doon to the comourte:
His gynnyng good; a cursid eende had he.
Moordre crieth vengaunce day & mht,—
A thyng contrary to eueri worthi kniht.
q Explicit liber quintus.
q Incipit liber vj‘"’.
3128 15 omitted + Oe RJ
3130. the] his B 33 aude mordre H.
3141. moordrer] ee TR,
moordyr H 5, morder Add.
3143. good] was good R.
3128
and a murderer
3132 who slew right-
ful heirs an
cared not
whether it were
right or wrong.
3136
Noble Princes,
rememvet that
murder cries
3140 ever vengence
and leads to
a cursed oe
3145
R 2, H, H 4, moordir Sl, H 3,
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